Zimbabwe all-rounder Wessley Madhevere is relieved after qualifying for the 2022 edition of the T20 World Cup which will be hosted by Australia in October.
The Chevrons last featured in the ICC event of the shortest format in 2016, wherein they secured two victories in three games. However, they failed to reach the Super 10 stage.
In the ongoing T20 World Cup Qualifiers B, Zimbabwe were undefeated in three group games before they secured a victory over Papua New Guinea in the semi-finals to cement a spot in the T20 World Cup.
The 21-year-old, who will be going to his first global tournament since breaking into the national side a couple of years ago revealed that the entire squad has been working hard to qualify for the showpiece event.
From an individual perspective, Madhevere garnered 42 runs from 29 balls at a strike rate of 144.82 in the winner takes all semi-final.
“I’m feeling quite chuffed. When everything you’ve been working for comes out right there is no better feeling than that. It is massive. Everyone’s been waiting for that. It has been a long wait, it has been a tough journey and for it to actually happen, it’s like a dream come true,” he said.
🗣️ "It's been a long wait. It's been a tough journey. For it to actually happen, it's a dream come true."
Watch Zimbabwe's reaction to qualifying for the T20 World Cup for the first time since 2016 📺
— ICC (@ICC) July 16, 2022
We are on the rise: Zimbabwe captain Craig Ervine
Zimbabwe skipper Craig Ervine feels the team is certainly raising the bar with their performances. However, he thinks there is a scope for improvement ahead of the T20 World Cup.
“It is exciting to have qualified for the World Cup,” said Craig Ervine.
“I wish we could play more cricket here (Bulawayo) because the support is unbelievable. We are on the rise and the most important thing is to keep improving.”
Zimbabwe will now head into the T20 World Cup qualifier B final against Netherlands seeking to a victory which would also give them a favourable group placing for the preliminary round of the global tournament in Australia later this year.
Winners of the tournament will not only get a trophy and ranking points but also the big prize of getting placed in Group A of the preliminary phase of the ICC T20 World Cup which features Sri Lanka, United Arab Emirates and Nambia.
The losers will face West Indies, Ireland and Scotland at the global showcase which appears a more challenging pool.
The top two teams from each group will join Australia, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan and South Africa in the Super 12s.