Zimbabwe faces T20 reckoning in bid to fend off obscurity

Zimbabwe’s place in cricket’s consciousness-

Boycotts, protests, and the occasional surprise victory once ensured Zimbabwe’s place in cricket’s consciousness. Yet now they are battling for relevance. Reduced to face Singapore, Jersey, and the United States this month for a World Cup berth.

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Failed to register a World Cup appearance in any format since 2016-

Earning a position at the Twenty20 showpiece in Australia this October has become a critical endeavor for Zimbabwe. They have failed to register a World Cup appearance in any format since 2016.

To break the drought, the African nation will have to overcome second and third-tier sides during a qualifying tournament in Bulawayo starting on Monday.

“They are not automatically qualifying for the World Cup and this ICC (International Cricket Council) events,” former Zimbabwe bowler-turned television commentator, Ed Rainsford, told Reuters.

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“Now you are having to brush shoulders with Oman, Jersey, Uganda, and teams like this in the hope that you’re going to qualify. That’s a dangerous place to be.”

Recent events show that it has become an appropriate place to be, albeit an undignified one for a relatively well-funded, test-playing outfit struggling to compete against poorly-resourced, low-ranking amateurs.

Scandals have tarnished the legacies of Zimbabwean icons Heath Streak and Brendan Taylor-

Over the past five years, off-field corruption scandals have tarnished the legacies of Zimbabwean icons Heath Streak and Brendan Taylor. And on the field, the team suffered humiliating series of defeats to Ireland, Afghanistan, the Netherlands, and Namibia.

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They also lost matches that they were expected to win against Singapore, Scotland, and the United Arab Emirates.

The loss to UAE caused the team to miss the 50-overs World Cup in 2019, underscoring the fall of a side once recognized for punching above their weight

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