Scenarios: Can Zimbabwe still qualify for the 2024 T20 World Cup?

Cricket News: Scenarios: Can Zimbabwe still qualify for the 2024 T20 World Cup? | A look at whether Zimbabwe can still qualify for the 2024 T20 World Cup

Zimbabwe head coach Dave Houghton labelled his team’s defeat against Namibia as “embarrassingly bad” and “one of the worst games” he’s been a part of. Things only got worse for the Zimbabweans, with a harrowing defeat by five wickets against Uganda. The loss put their T20 World Cup hopes in serious jeopardy, and it remains the case.

Zimbabwe won their next two matches against Rwanda (by 144 runs) and Nigeria (by six wickets), but they still need an unlikely result to go their way. They must beat Kenya on Thursday (30 November) and hope that Uganda loses to bottom-placed Rwanda who have lost four from five matches with a net run rate of -4.000.

ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Region Qualifier – Zimbabwe on the brink of missing out on 2024 T20 World Cup

Namibia have qualified and Kenya need a huge win against Zimbabawe – plus a Uganda loss against Rwanda – to qualify. So, realistically, the final spot is between Zimbabwe and Uganda.

A win for Zimbabwe and defeat for Uganda by any margin will see Sikandar Raza’s team qualify for the 2024 T20 World Cup due to their very strong net run rate off the back of their massive wins over Rwanda and Nigeria.

The campaign as a whole has been disappointing for Zimbabwe. They showed great promise in last year’s T20 World Cup, beating Pakistan and coming close against Bangladesh as they pushed for a semi-finals berth. Also, they were playing wonderful cricket in the ODI World Cup Qualifier tournament at home earlier this year, before they fell away in the Super Sixes stage to miss out on qualification.

Soon after this tournament, Zimbabwe will play three T20Is and three ODIs at home against Ireland. They will be hoping those T20Is will be played with an eye to the 2024 T20 World Cup to be held in West Indies and USA.