Zimbabwe captain was confident despite lack of international cricket.
Zimbabwe limited-overs captain Chamu Chibhabha was sounded confident about his team’s chances in the upcoming white-ball series in Pakistan despite zero international practice over these days due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.
On Tuesday, October 20, the Zimbabwe squad arrived in Islamabad, Pakistan to play three One Day Internationals as part of the ODI Super League and as many as T20Is starting on October 30 – which will be their first international fixture since the Coronavirus-forced shutdown.
As the ODI Super League offers bottom-ranked teams the final but golden opportunity to find a place for World Cup 2023 in India, Chibhabha said the stakes for bilateral contests have been raised given this fact.
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Zimbabwe is all set to start their campaign to qualify for the 2023 World Cup with the Pakistan series and captain Chibhabha was confident that his team can play well, compete and beat the hosts in the upcoming limited-overs series to be played in Lahore and Rawalpindi.
Chibhabha said, “We know every ODI game is important for us now as we start our campaign to qualify for the 2023 World Cup in India. Obviously, the guys are excited to go to Pakistan, the wait is over.”
He further added, “We have played Pakistan before, and beat them, so we believe we can actually play well, compete and beat them. And, considering it's the Super League games, each game that we play going forward is going to be important, considering that the more games we win give us a better chance to qualify for the World Cup.”
Meanwhile, the upcoming series will be Zimbabwe's first international fixture while Pakistan has already played three Tests and as many T20s in England but the captain asserted the tourists are fully prepared to take on the Men in Green on their own home.
Chibhabha further said, “Obviously, they (Pakistan) have managed to play a couple of games and we have just been sitting at home but I feel well prepared.”
He signed off by saying, “We have had our chances to prepare before this tour and I think we had some pretty good match practice and also playing in the National Premier League helped the guys to get some match practice. So, the guys are ready.”
(With PTI Inputs)