Tinashe Kusema-Zimpapers Sports Hub

IF Elton Chigumbura is to be believed, then “resilience” is Zimbabwe’s secret weapon heading into the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup which officially kicks off tomorrow.

In fact, the 39-year-old is so confident that “resilience” will carry the day for Zimbabwe that he has even promised to “shock the world”.

“The energy and confidence is high in camp,” he said.

“We just have to make sure that we hit the ground running during the first game that we are going to play.

“Momentum will be key.

“We want to get the momentum on our side early on so that we put ourselves in a good position right off the bat.

“We want to shock the world,” said Chigumbura.

Zimbabwe go into the World Cup battered and bruised after their humbling 114-run defeat at the hands of New Zealand during their final warm-up game on Monday.

However, it is a position that is all too familiar, and Zimbabwe have almost always bounced back after every knock.

This has become a recurring theme, especially during their World Cup build-up, as Chigumbura noted.

“I think the biggest takeaway from our build-up is that the team seems to now have a basic understanding of their roles,” said Chigumbura.

“They have built a resilience, especially when under pressure.

“I thought the guys actually stood up when we were under pressure during a couple of games. We tried to make sure that they work hard to come out of difficult situations, which is what every coach wants.

“It’s not always about playing well but how well you adapt to certain pressure situations, and I think they have stood out when it matters most.

“We are not always going to play the perfect game, but when you start to see your players fighting in difficult moments, that’s when you start to appreciate and see the value of what you have been doing.

“And, having gone through that experience many times, it will go a long way in the tournament.

“They will stay calm, know what they need to do and handle themselves the best possible way,” he said.

The 16th edition of the global junior cricket jamboree will start with three matches spread across Zimbabwe and co-hosts Namibia.

Hosts Zimbabwe have a date against Scotland at Takashinga Sports Club, while India play the US at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo.

In Namibia, debutants Tanzania open their World Cup account with a clash against traditional giants the West Indies at the HP Oval in Windhoek.

Australia are the defending champions, after having won the 2024 edition, and now trail India by one title on the tally for most World Cup titles.

Pakistan are the only other team with multiple titles to their name with successive victories in 2004 and 2006, while West Indies, South Africa, Bangladesh and England have one triumph each.

A total of 24 matches will be played across the group stages of the tournament, slated for January 15-February 6, with 16 teams divided into four groups of four.

The top three teams from each group will proceed to the Super Six stage, while the fourth-placed teams in each pool will move to placement matches.

There, the fourth-placed teams in Groups A and D face each other, while the fourth-placed teams in Groups B and C clash against one another.

The top three teams from Group A and D will progress to one Super Six group, while the top three from Group B and C will be combined in another Super Six group.

The points, wins and net run rate earned against the other progressing Super Six teams will be carried forward.

According to the tournament format, the teams will then play two matches in the Super Six stage against opponents from the other group that finished in a different position.

Queens Sports Club and the Harare Sports Club will then host the two semi-finals on February 3 and 4, with the Harare Sports Club playing host to the final on February 6.

Seventeen umpires and four match referees from the Emirates ICC International Panels of Umpires and Referees have already been appointed to handle matches for the showcase.

These officials represent 13 different nationalities, with the duo of former Zimbabwe international cricketer Forster Mutizwa and Iknow Chabi flying the host nation’s flag.

The officiating group also features several experienced figures, including former West Indies international Deighton Butler and England’s Graham Lloyd, who follows in the footsteps of his father, David Lloyd, a respected former umpire who later became a renowned broadcaster.

The four match referees appointed for the tournament are Dean Cosker (England), Prakash Bhatt (India), Graeme Labrooy (Sri Lanka) and Neeyamur Rahul (Bangladesh), all of whom bring significant international experience to the event.