WITH just 10 days left before the start of the International Cricket Council Cricket World Cup less than two weeks from getting underway in Zimbabwe, officials from ICC on Wednesday inspected venues to be used for playing as well as practice purposes in Bulawayo.

Media and communications officer Mary Godbeer, venue manager Alex Bosshardt and senior officer, cricket operations Ben Leaver are the ICC officials who visited the venues. They were accompanied by ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier media manager Darlington Majonga. Bulawayo LOC members, chairman Nicholas Singo, stadium managers Busani Dube, Nokuthula Sibanda-Ndlovu and Tafadzwa Kwesu showed the world governing body's officials around three facilities. 

The ICC employees inspected facilities at playing venues, Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo Athletic Club and practice ground Old Mutual Heath Streak Academy to see how ready they are for the tournament which stars on 4 March. Indications are that the ICC senior staff will conduct a final readiness assessment on 26 February, a day before the start of warm up matches.

Majonga said the presence of the ICC staff is an indication that the tournament is a few days away. He indicated that the world cricket governing body’s employees have already inspected the playing venues in Harare. In the capital, the matches are taking place at Harare Sports Club and Old Hararians while Takashinga Cricket Club is a training facility.

“The ICC officials are here and what it means is the tournament is just about to start, that’s what their presence signifies. We have been to the venues in Harare just doing the final checks and today(Wednesday) we have been to Queens Sports Club, BAC and the Heath Streak Academy,’’ Majonga said.

In terms of preparations, Majonga pointed out that things were almost in place with everything meant to be in order by this weekend. He called upon Zimbabweans to come out in their numbers to give all the support to the Chevrons as they try to make it to next year’s World Cup in England.

“They are impressed, they are happy, there are still a few areas that we need to touch up and everything should be in place by this weekend. What’s left is for the games to start and for the people of Bulawayo, the people of Harare and all walks of life to come out in their thousands, the matches are free of charge so we want people to come here and back their team, support their team so that we can make it to the World Cup,'' he said. 

Five countries, Zimbabwe, Afghanistan, Hong Kong, Nepal and Scotland will play their group matches at the two venues in Bulawayo from 4 to 12 March. Queens Sports Club is the scene for a Super Sixes fixture on 15 March prior to the action shifting to Kwekwe and Harare with the Harare Sports Club the venue for the final on 25 March.

Two-time world 50 over champions West Indies, Ireland, Papua New Guinea, Netherlands and United Arab Emirates are playing their group matches at HSC and OH.

Of the 10 countries taking part in the Qualifier, only two, the finalists will make it to next year’s World Cup to be staged in England.

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