With an eye on 2026 T20 World Cup
\nThey\u2019ve missed qualification for four ICC events since 2019, but players like Bennett and Campbell give Raza hope
\nIslamabad
\nCaptain Sikandar Raza has said Zimbabwe will be looking to bring in new players and rebuild the side to \u201csecure\u201d their future in all three formats.
\nAmong those players is Brian Bennett, who put up an all-round show in the fifth T20I against Bangladesh to secure a Zimbabwe win.
\nBennet, who made his international debut last year after Zimbabwe failed to qualify for the 2024 men\u2019s T20 World Cup, picked 2 for 20 and scored a 49-ball 70 ensuring his team did not suffer a 5-0 T20I series sweep. The 2024 T20 World Cup is the fourth ICC event that Zimbabwe have missed since 2019.
\n\u201cThis is the vision,\u201d Raza told ESPNcricinfo. \u201cBecause we are not going to the World Cup, we want to rebuild the team. We want to secure our future in all three formats. The senior guys will be there for a bit longer in ODIs and Tests, but in T20s we are trying to build a new team. The long-term vision is for these guys to gain the confidence from T20s to filter into ODIs and Tests.
\n\u201cI can tell those youngsters that we tried our hardest (in the qualifiers) but it wasn\u2019t meant to be. For those coming into the changing room, there\u2019s still the right guidance available. Hopefully, our advice and guidance will help you kids cross that hurdle, and get to the World Cup if you ever have to play the qualifiers.\u201d
\nZimbabwe\u2019s tour of Bangladesh was an eye-opener for the side in transition. After the first match, they dropped experienced batters Ryan Burl and Sean Williams for a few games. Craig Ervine was also replaced at one stage after the third T20I. They wanted to give the likes of Bennett, Johnathan Campbell and Tadiwanashe Marumani more game-time.
\nBennett batted in three positions in the five games. He struggled initially, but the 70 in the fifth game gave Zimbabwe hope. He also picked important wickets\u2013Shakib Al Hasan and Najmul Hossain Shanto in the fourth T20I and Soumya Sarkar and Towhid Hridoy in the fifth\u2013with his offspin.
\n\u201cI am very pleased with my performance,\u201d Bennett said after the game. \u201cIt is Mother\u2019s Day, so this one will be for my mum. I am grateful it came out today. I am fine batting anywhere in the order. I don\u2019t really have a set position to bat. I can play my normal game during or after the powerplay.
\n\u201cIt is much easier as an allrounder these days to get your name out there. I am working on my bowling a bit. Hopefully, it will get better as my career goes on. It is something that I am definitely willing to get better at.\u201d
\nBennett went after offspinner Mahedi Hasan, who had success in the powerplay in the first two matches in this series, early on.
\n\u201cWe didn\u2019t have a target today, we played freely, played our game,\u201dBennett said. \u201cThe result took care of itself. Offspin is my match-up in the powerplay with two fielders out (of the 30-yard circle). The ball was turning a lot. If you just watched the ball closely, it was easier to play.
\n\u201cWe had wickets in hand. If we took six or seven an over, it was still fine. As long as the run-rate didn\u2019t increase too much. When it got to nine (an over), we wanted to get a boundary early in the over. We know we have big finishers in the end to finish the job.\u201d
\nRaza was impressed by the attitude of his younger team-mates.
\n\u201cThe beauty about that kid (Bennett) is that he is so selfless,\u201d Raza said. \u201cHe batted at No. 3, then got a 44 at No. 6, then he went back to No. 3, and then he opened in the last two innings. He didn\u2019t even complain once. We backed him fully whether he failed or not. We told him that we will give him a long run. Have a good attitude about it. We will see what position best suits you.\u201d
\n\u201cAnother example of this selflessness is Wellington Masakadza wanted to send Faraz (Akram) ahead of him. Faraz is his junior but Wellington thought that Faraz was in better form. That\u2019s the culture we want to bring into the dressing room where everyone is constantly thinking about winning the game. We think for the whole team and the country.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
With an eye on 2026 T20 World Cup They\u2019ve missed qualification for four ICC events since 2019, but players like Bennett and Campbell give Raza hope Islamabad Captain Sikandar Raza has said Zimbabwe will be looking to bring in new players and rebuild the side to \u201csecure\u201d their future in all three formats. Among those […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":406827,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-406814","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n