Earning a spot in the Twenty20 showpiece in Australia this October has become a significant effort for Zimbabwe, who have failed to make a World Cup appearance in either format since 2016.
To break the drought, the African nation will have to overcome the second and third tier teams during the qualifying tournament starting on Monday in Bulawayo.
“They are not automatically qualifying for the World Cup and these ICC (International Cricket Council) events,” former Zimbabwe bowler-turned-television commentator Ed Rainsford told Reuters.
“Now you’re going to go side by side with teams like Oman, Jersey, Uganda and the like in the hope that you’re going to qualify. It’s a dangerous place.”
Recent events suggest that it has become a fitting venue, although it has become a respectable venue for a relatively well-funded, test-playing organization against poorly-resourced, low-ranking amateurs. Struggling to compete.
Over the past five years, off-field corruption scandals have tarnished the legacy of Zimbabwean icons Heath Streak and Brendan Taylor, and on-field the team suffered humiliating series defeats to Ireland, Afghanistan, the Netherlands and Namibia.
They also lost matches they expected to win against Singapore, Scotland and the United Arab Emirates.
The team missed the 50-over World Cup in 2019 due to a loss to the UAE, underscoring the downfall of a side once known for punching above its weight.
‘too scary’
The political turmoil that Zimbabwe experienced under Robert Mugabe’s regime in the mid-2000s was linked to cricket.
It ended several playing careers, notably those of protesters Henry Olonga and Andy Flower, and left scars that never healed.
Test victories over Bangladesh and Pakistan in early 2010 gave fans some hope, as did ODI victories against India, New Zealand and Australia, but the side never progressed as weak development paths failed to churn out talent.
Now in their mid-thirties, Sean Williams, Craig Ervine, Regis Chakabwa and Sikandar Raza are the only remaining active players to have brought in three figures at the top level.
Zimbabwe’s domestic league has failed to score a single international century since 2007 with its first-class debut. Adding insult to injury, the English county club stripped down several young men who show promise, such as Nick Welch and Ed Byromes.
“As a Test playing country … you have to think progressively, you have to think about the next crop of players,” Rainsford said.
“It’s just gone astray during the last 10 to 12 years. Zimbabwean cricket has never been where they are now and it’s actually quite scary.”
As the team’s prospects dwindle, so has the interest in Zimbabwe from the global cricket fraternity.
“I think the cricketing world has said, ‘Zimbabwe need to do what they need to do, we can’t continue to tease them.
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