ZIMBABWE Cricket Under-19 coach, Stephen Mangongo, believes the time has come for the teenagers to step it up to the fullest as the preparations for the 2018 ICC Under-19 World Cup heighten.

Mangongo, who announced a 24-member provisional squad last Friday, says his charges need to literally work as slaves to make sure that all departments fire in time for the youth global showcase to be staged in New Zealand in January and February.

“Way forward is working like slaves for the next one-and-a-half months in order to punch above our weight,” Mangongo told H-Metro.

At the 2018 World Cup, Zimbabwe U19 are in group B alongside India, Australia and Papua New Guinea.

It’s a tough group and so this will be a demanding contest for Zimbabwe hence Mangongo sees the need to make the hardest of yards.

“There is no substitute for hard work, there is no magic for hard work. After a tough tour of India we had, we need to work hard,” he said.

Last month Zimbabwe toured Australia and India and will round up their preparations with for the World Cup with a series against Western Province Academy in Cape Town next month.

The Zimbabwe provisional squad is expected to train twice a week until the final 15 players are selected.

Zimbabwe U19 World Cup Provisional Squad

Liam Roche (cpt), Wesley Madhevere, Greg Dollar, Milton Shumba, Jayden Schadendorff, Tanunurwa Makoni, Donald Mlambo, Alistair Frost, Taun Harrison, Dion Myers, Nkosilatu Nunu, Jonathan Connolly, Privilege Chesa, Tawanda Muyeye, Kieran Robinson, Makdhum Talati, Dion Mazhawidza, Tinotenda Jakachira, Dane Schadendorff, Tinashe Nenhunzi, Marshall Takodza, Arnold Shara, Robert Chimhinya and Struan Moore-Gordon.