ZIMBABWE have been awarded the right to host the International Cricket Council (ICC) Women’s World Cup Qualifier global tournament scheduled for November this year.
The 10-team global tournament, which is set for November 21 to December 5, will decide the remaining three participants for the 50-over ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022 to be played in New Zealand.
The finalists will qualify for the next edition of the ICC Women’s Championship.
It is the biggest Women’s cricket tournament on home soil since Zimbabwe hosted the ICC T20 World Cup Africa Qualifiers in 2019.
A massive endorsement of the country as a top cricket destination in these Covid-19 trying times.
Zimbabwe has this year hosted five incoming tours for both men and women’s national sides that have been played under the bio-secure bubbles with no cases of Covid-19 reported.
The hosting of the tournament has government backing and was announced by both the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) and Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) in a joint statement.
SRC Chairman Gerald Mlotshwa, who ironically played a hand in Zimbabwe ladies failing to participate in the ICC Global Qualifiers hosted by Scotland in 2019 after ICC suspended the Southern Africa nation due to government interference, congratulated ZC.
“Congratulations, Zimbabwe Cricket! Well done! This development dovetails perfectly with your ‘Visit Zimbabwe’ campaign launched in October last year, in conjunction with the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority, by President ED Mnangagwa,” wrote Mlotshwa.
“The participation of all these teams in Zimbabwe will certainly market the country as a premier tourist destination as well as showcase Zimbabwe’s ability to host an event of this magnitude notwithstanding the Covid-19 environment.”
“To the ICC, the SRC extends its appreciation for the vote of confidence in Zimbabwe Cricket.”
ZC Chairman Tavengwa Mukuhlani, who expressed his pain the last time the girls failed to participate at the Scotland Global Qualifiers, was elated and humbled by ICC’s gesture.
“Firstly, I wish to express our heartfelt thanks to the ICC board for their magnanimous gesture in allowing us the privilege of hosting the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2021,” Mukuhlani said.
“On our part, we will leave no stone unturned to ensure this prestigious global event stands out as a unique event that celebrates Zimbabwe in all its magnificent splendour, richness, vibrancy, diversity and glory.
“I believe being granted the right to host this tournament is a vote of confidence in what we as ZC are doing and what we are hoping to do. You can be rest assured we will not disappoint. We will not disappoint the nation of Zimbabwe, and we will not disappoint the game of cricket.”
The Lady Chevrons will be battle it out with other nine teams, Bangladesh, West Indies, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Ireland, the Netherlands, Papua New Guinea, Thailand and the United States of America.
