Story by Lawrence Trusida, Sports Editor
THE build-up to the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup is gaining momentum in Zimbabwe, with the first official warm-up matches offering an early glimpse of the intensity and quality expected at the global youth showpiece.
At Prince Edward School in Harare, England began their preparations with a composed five-wicket victory over New Zealand, as teams fine-tune their combinations ahead of the tournament’s start. The fixture marked the formal start of warm-up matches being staged across the country.
With just days to go before the start of the 16th edition of the Under-19 World Cup, teams are using the warm-ups to fine-tune combinations and adjust to local conditions.
The preparatory fixtures will continue nationwide until January 14, one day before the tournament bowls off.
Tournament Director Hamilton Masakadza has expressed satisfaction with how the formal proceedings have begun.
“We are pleased with the way everything has started. The teams are settling in well, the facilities are ready, and the warm-up matches are giving everyone a proper feel of what to expect when the tournament begins.”
Zimbabwe is co-hosting the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup with Namibia, in a partnership that places Southern Africa at the heart of world youth cricket.
The tournament will culminate with the final scheduled for February 6 at Harare Sports Club, where a new generation of stars will look to write their names into the game’s future.
