Zimbabwe will take on Hong Kong in the opening match of the International Cricket Council (ICC) T20 World Cup 2016 at Vidarbha Cricket Association Ground in Nagpur on Tuesday.
The ICC T20 World Cup, also referred to as World T20, is set to start on Tuesday March 8. The sixth edition of the world T20 championship will be held in India. Eight top-ranking teams - India, Australia, South Africa, England, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, New Zealand and West Indies - have already booked their places in the Super10, while eight other teams - Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Oman, Zimbabwe, Hong Kong, Nepal, Netherlands and Ireland - will play each other in the qualifying round from March 8 to 13. Two teams out of eight will make a place in the Super10.
Watch the live stream and videos here, here and here and live score here and here. The twenty over match starts at 3 p.m. local time (9:30 a.m. GMT/ 4:30 a.m. EST/ 1:20 a.m. PST) on March 8.
Zimbabwe began its T20 world cup campaign on a winning note. The newly appointed captain Hamilton Masakadza hit a match-winning half century to guide Zimbabwe to a six-wicket win over Ireland in an official warm-up match last week.
Former South African bowler Makhaya Ntini, who was recently appointed Zimababwe's bowling coach, says the Masakadza-led squad has talented young players. "I think they (Zimbabwe) have talented young players. There will be a lot of changes, and a lot of happiness, in Zimbabwean cricket. We are preparing for the World Cup and all those who think they'll beat us will be swallowing their words," Ntini said.
Hong Kong, on the other hand, lost its official warm-up game against Ireland. Ireland's skipper William Porterfield hit an unbeaten 75 to help his side to chase down 120.
"Ireland were pretty clinical and we just weren't up to it tonight, it was a disappointing performance. At this level we have to be very tight with our lines and selective with the shots we play, so we need to be more clinical with our skills in the game," Hong Kong's Mark Chapman said after the loss.
The Probable Squads
Hong Kong: Tanwir Afzal, Mark Chapman, Haseeb Amjad, Nadeem Ahmed, James Atkinson, Tanwir Ahmed, Ryan Campbell, Waqas Barkat, Babar Hayat, Christopher Carter, Aizaz Khan, Nizakat Khan, Anshuman Rath, Waqas Khan, Kinchit Shah
Zimbabwe: Sean Williams, Tendai Chatara, Wellington Masakadza, Tinashe Panyangara, Hamilton Masakadza, Peter Moor, Elton Chigumbura, Sikandar Raza Butt, Richmond Mutumbami, Chamu Chibhabha, Tendai Chisoro, Tawanda Mupariwa, Malcolm Waller, Vusumuzi Sibanda, Donald Tiripano,
