Two-time World Cup champions Windies will begin their first ever World Cup qualifier journey on Tuesday when they will take on UAE at Old Hararians. Their old pride at stake and they can somehow save it by winning this tournament and qualifying for the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup. Windies captain Jason Holder is ready for this tournament and taking each team seriously.
In the ten teams’ competition, Windies are in the Group A along with Ireland, Netherlands, Papua New Guinea (PNG) and United Arab Emirates (UAE). For qualification in the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup, teams need to reach in the final of this qualifier tournament. It means only two teams can qualify for the upcoming CWC.
Windies skipper Jason Holder revealed that his team are taking seriously every other team. He said, “We have a situation where every team knows how the other plays. As for ourselves, everyone is going to come hard at us. They have nothing to lose and everything to gain. We just need to be disciplined from the onset, and not put ourselves under unnecessary pressure.”
Also read: Jason Holder lauded Gayle and Samuels for playing the Qualifier
Apart from the opponents, Windies might have to fight against the weather too as currently, it is the rainy season in Zimbabwe. Speaking of this tournament, Holder quoted, “It’s a big contest. In these short tournaments, you need to start well. The weather has been a bit bad, so we don’t want to find ourselves scrambling though in the end.”
In the first day of this qualifier competition, Old Hararians pitch was looking like a good batting surface. Talking about that, the 26-years old Caribbean all-rounder spoke out, “We will have a look and see what it brings. It seems to be a good wicket, seeing it from the Netherlands-Ireland match. The ball comes on to the bat. We are looking to capitalise and get a big score.”
Also read: Brian Lara believes Windies will qualify for the 2019 ICC CWC
Holder also praised their left-arm spinner Nikita Miller who saved them in the warm-up match against UAE. After getting all out for just 115 runs, Windies bowled out inexperienced UAE team for just 83 runs while Miller took 5 wickets in that innings.
Speaking about him, Holder said, “He is very consistent with his length. He has also bowled really well for Jamaica and took good wickets. If the wicket offers assistance he will capitalise. With a good off-spinner at the other end, he bowls well in partnership.”
