Zimbabwe welcome more teams in World Cups  

by Rex Clementine  

Having missed out on the 2019 and 2023 ICC Cricket World Cups, Zimbabwe captain Craig Ervine welcomed the move to accommodate more teams for the next two editions of the tournament. The International Cricket Council has confirmed that the 2027 and 2031 World Cups will include 14 teams.

The last two World Cups were restricted to ten teams attracting a lot of criticism. Two times champions West Indies failed to qualify for the sport’s showpiece event held in India last October while Zimbabwe, who took part in every World Cup from 1983 to 2015, also were knocked out.

“It is hugely important that more teams compete in global events such as World Cups rather than being restricted to fewer teams. It’s better for cricket,” Ervine told journalists in Colombo ahead of a three-match series against Sri Lanka.

“Teams like us don’t get to play top teams like India, Australia and England often and events like the World Cup is the only occasion we get to compete against the best. It was a huge disappointment to miss out in the last two tournaments, but we are very happy that it has now been expanded,” Ervine added.

The three-match series against Sri Lanka gets underway in Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium and it’s part of the World Cup Super League, a stepping stone for the 2027 tournament to be held in Africa.

“It is a fresh start for us. We are looking to play competitive cricket and make sure that when we come on tours like these we challenge the opposition.”

Kusal Mendis who skippered the Sri Lankan team during the World Cup in the absence of the injured Dasun Shanaka has been given the role on a full-time basis. He said that one area that Sri Lanka have focused heavily on is their fielding.

“Fielding is one area that we have worked really hard during the last two weeks. It was a big letdown for us during the World Cup. We spilled 16 catches and I don’t think you can do that in any competition leave alone a World Cup,” Mendis told journalists.

“It was bitterly disappointing. We could have fared better in the World Cup had we been more disciplined on the field. I can promise you that there’s been lot of hard work and you can see the results in this upcoming series,” Mendis went onto say. All three ODIs will be played in Colombo. The three match ODI series will be followed by a three match T-20 series, also to be staged in Colombo.