ZIMBABWE host Netherlands in a three-match One Day International Super League series with echoes of a chastening defeat at the hands of the Dutch at the last ODI World Cup in Australia still playing out loud at the back of their heads.
That defeat, a helpless five-wicket demise coupled with a three-run defeat at the hands of the Tigers of Bangladesh, eventually ended the Chevrons’ fairytale, subsequently denying them an automatic qualification at the ICC Men’s 2023 ODI World Cup scheduled for India in October.
Zimbabwe Bowling Coach Steve Kirby confirmed that the Chevrons are still hurting from that defeat at the World Cup.
“We must not underestimate the Dutch, they are a good side, but we have got some unfinished business from the World Cup,” Kirby told reporters at a pre-series press conference at Harare Sports Club on Monday.
“We wanna show them exactly what we are about now, and we have a huge world cup qualifying tournament. We have this big series, and we will have Pakistan’s A touring which gives us some good warm-up.”
Netherlands Captain Scott Edwards said they had beaten Zimbabwe before and are looking to replicate the same.
“We are here to win the series, but we know Zimbabwe has a strong side, especially in their conditions, so we have had to plan accordingly. We know there will be good, so we have to play well, but our goal is to win this series,” he said.
“We are looking at the qualifiers, so we need to get some momentum going. We played Zimbabwe in 2019 and won two nil, but they are on a different side now and are in their home conditions. The game is going be a lot different here.”
