3-mob.com 
Zimbabwe have found themselves in uncomfortable company as they take part in the ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2023 Africa.
A loss against Associate member Netherlands had them missing out on direct qualification from the last edition.
It means they now face Namibia, Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania and Nigeria as they look to get one of the two tickets to the USA and West Indies next year.
While they are expected to make it comfortably, especially as the only Test nation, there will be focus on how they do it.
When they hosted the 2022 Qualifier, head coach Dave Houghton said the goal was to create distance between Zimbabwe and associate nations. To do that his goal was for them to win all their matches in Bulawayo.
They achieved that.
Since then however, they have regularly lost to Associate members, one of those cost them a ticket at the just-ended ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in India.
It has led to conversations on whether Zimbabwe is in reality a fringe Test nation, a partially associate country in practice.
Not that the investment in cricket and the efforts of Zimbabwe Cricket suggest any of the above.
It is the inconsistency of performances, one of them resulting in a weird T20 series loss to Namibia a weeks ago.
The board has expressed disappointment with the loss, but ultimately the players have to walk into the this tournament with elite mentality. Every performance has to be top-notch, as if they are playing against the big three of World Cricket.
Pride has to be front and centre.
Because for Zimbabwe, it is not just about qualification.
They kick off their campaign on Wednesday afternoon against Namibia.
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