Zimbabwe women go into camp

Zimbabwe have gone into a three-week training camp ahead of their women's World Cup qualifiers in Pakistan next month.

The side, captained by Julia Chibhabha, will be looking for consistency in their performances and are confident they will pick up one of the two World Cup slots on offer.

In addition to preparations the squad will be using the time together to build up morale. Chibhabha said: "All the players are in now and we are going to be in camp for the next three weeks and that means we have a lot of time to prepare for the games.

"As a team we are aiming to win all our games in Pakistan, we hope that we will use this time to get to know each other a little better. We want to go to Pakistan and win all the games we are going to play and if we play as a team we will achieve that."

The Zimbabwe coach Emmanuel Dube said that his squad are hoping to play a couple of international friendly fixtures ahead of the World Cup qualifiers. "All that is needed now is to play one or two international friendly matches to fine-tune the team before departure in November.

"Cricket is fast evolving into more of a batting game with big scores winning the match at the end of the day. We have set a target of 250-plus runs for the batters, while at the same time asking the bowlers to restrict the opposition to scores less than 200 in all our three games if we are to stand any chance in Pakistan, and, I think our previous camp in Kwekwe, where we placed a lot of emphasis on solid batting at the top and in the middle, is beginning to bear fruit."

Zimbabwe open their campaign against Scotland on 19 November.

Squad Julia Chibhabha (capt), Yvonne Rainsford, Tina Kamchetsa, Susan Kudzibatira, Nonhlanhla Nyathi, Precious Marange, Hazvinei Saili, Thandakwenkosi Mlilo, Sinikiwe Mpofu, Emily Jinjika, Sharne Mayers, Christabel Chatonzwa, Ruvarashe Chinyemba, Chipo Mugeri.