Williams targets win over England

Zimbabwe Under-19 captain Sean Williams is targeting a victory over Group D rivals England as the key to his side's progress to the Super League at the U-19 World Cup.

The group, that also includes Associate sides Ireland and Nepal, appears to be the most wide-open of the four in the tournament that starts in Colombo, Sri Lanka on Sunday. And Williams, who has already played four ODIs at senior level, believes a victory over the group favourites, who they face on 10 February, could go a long way to ensuring the African side reach the knock-out stage.

"England are my main target - I really want to beat England," he said on Monday. "I think if we beat England then we are close to the Super League and I would say if we can beat them then we can beat almost anybody. I know and believe we can beat them."

This tournament comes less than a month after Zimbabwe Cricket withdrew from Test matches for one year following a period of poor results and internal strife that has rocked the game in that country. The situation has prompted speculation about the future of cricket in Zimbabwe and so Williams acknowledged a solid performance from his team was vital to show that future is bright.

"The U-19 team we have got has a lot of fight in it and the incentive for us is huge," he said. "People do not expect a lot from Zimbabwe but at the last U-19 World Cup (in Bangladesh in 2004) we proved a lot and we've come to prove a lot again. In an individual way it is important for each and every (Zimbabwe) player that has come across to be seen by the rest of the world," he added.

The importance of the team being in Sri Lanka and also proving the vitality of the game at this development level was echoed by team manager Dilip Chouhan. "We know all eyes are focussed on us in the cricketing fraternity because of what has happened at home," he said. "As a result we believe we are playing an important role as far as the future of Zimbabwe cricket is concerned."

Coach Walter Chawaguta said he had encouraged his players not to think about the internal problems that have affected cricket in Zimbabwe in the build-up to this tournament. "From day one we've said this is U-19 cricket," he said. "A lot of them are schoolboys so not a lot of them have been affected. They may be worried about their futures but we have made it very clear they should only worry about things that are in their control - that has been our focus. Our future lies in the development of the game and our U-14, U-15 and U-16 sides right up to U-19 level are well developed. If we can be competitive at these levels then it means there is light at the end of the tunnel."

Zimbabwe lost all five of its matches in November's Afro-Asian U-19 Cup in India but Williams said part of the blame for those losses was down to some players being unavailable because of schooling commitments. He said since that tournament the players had been in a training camp interrupted only by a break for the Christmas holidays in December ahead of the trip to Sri Lanka.

Chawaguta added they knew little about their opening Group D opponents Ireland but said that was not a major concern. "Our focus is on making sure we play well on any particular day," he said. "If we do that then we will put the opposition under pressure."

Zimbabwe face Ireland on Sunday on the opening day of the ICC U-19 CWC before further matches against Nepal (February 7) and England (February 10) complete their group stage. The top two sides from each of the four groups in the tournament will progress to the Super League stage, which consists of knock-out quarter- and semi-finals and a final on 19 February.

Zimbabwe squad Sean Williams (capt), Gary Balance, Ronald Benade, Justice Chomunorwa (also known as Cham or Chamu Chibhabha), Graeme Cremer, Ryan Higgins, Friday Kasteni, Tarisai Mahlunge, Prince Masvaure, Keagan Meth, Taurai Muzarabani, Ian Nicolson, Donald (also known as Kuda) Samunderu and Glen Querl.