THE echoes of a painful past will be loud and clear at Harare Sports Club this afternoon, but for Zimbabwe’s cricketers and their faithful supporters, they represent a chance for redemption.
As the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier 2025 kicks off in the capital, all eyes are on the hosts, who begin their campaign with a symbolic showdown against Uganda, the very team that shattered their World Cup dreams at this stage less than two years ago.
The memories of that upset defeat in Namibia remain fresh, a stark reminder of the high stakes and razor-thin margins in international cricket.
But according to Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza, the team has turned the page.
“You can stay in the past and if you choose to stay in the past, you end up living in the past,” Raza said with conviction at yesterday’s pre-tournament Press conference.
“We moved on as a country, we moved on as a cricketing nation.”
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Raza’s words resonate with a sense of purpose and confidence.
He believes the past 12 to 16 months have been a period of intense preparation, with the team producing a lot of great consistent performances against the big teams in white-ball cricket.
The squad, largely unchanged from the last qualifier, has gained invaluable experience, a factor Raza is counting on.
“The boys are a lot more experienced. That allowed them to gain a lot more experience, understanding of the game, how to build an inning or build an over and things like that. So, it’s an exciting time for us now,” he said.
The opening fixture against Uganda at Harare Sports Club is more than just a game; it’s an opportunity to exorcise demons.
Yet, Raza views the pressure of playing at home not as a burden, but a source of strength.
“For me, that means more support, more prayers for us. You cannot win these tournaments without all those things,” he declared.
“I think the journey we have had over the last year certainly gives me a lot of confidence and peace and calmness as well that Inshallah Zimbabwe should be there (at the World Cup).”
While Zimbabwe are the clear favourites in Group B, alongside Uganda, Tanzania and Botswana, the other contenders are not to be underestimated.
Namibia, a side that has consistently impressed on the global stage, are in Group A with Kenya, Malawi, and Nigeria.
Their captain, Merwe Gerhard Erasmus, believes the recent three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe was the perfect preparation.
“I think we probably couldn’t have had anything better than that in local conditions, against a very high-quality side,” Erasmus said, despite his team losing the series.
“Prep’s only one thing. When it starts off tomorrow, it’s all on a clean slate. You have to go out and, I guess, perform your processes very consistently.”
Kenya captain Dhiren Gondaria acknowledged his team’s limited preparation, but was optimistic about their chances.
“We really didn’t have much preparation before coming to Harare. But we did do locally 10 days camp, and the guys are really looking in great touch and it all depends on the mindset.”
The two venues, the iconic Harare Sports Club and the grassroots heartland of Takashinga Cricket Club, will host a total of 20 matches.
The top two teams from the eight-nation tournament will book their tickets to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka.
For fans, the good news is that entrance to all matches is free.
The action begins this morning with Namibia facing Kenya at Harare Sports Club and Nigeria taking on Malawi at Takashinga.
But the real drama will unfold this afternoon when Zimbabwe take on Uganda, a match that promises to be a gripping contest of skill, nerve and perhaps, a touch of redemption.