By Don Makanyanga Zimbabwe national Under-19 cricket team coach Chris Harris believes his charges are ready to spring a surprise at the forthcoming International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cup, set to kick off in Australia in a fortnight. The former New Zealand all-rounder told Standardsport that his charges were ready for the challenge after having been involved in a series of high-profile preparatory matches against different competitive sides. “The camp has been going on well as we have managed to play some high-profile matches that have helped us to come up with possible combinations for this World Cup,” Harris said. Harris said the team was not taking their first group opponents at the world showcase lightly as he understood that the opponents have been preparing for the games seriously. “We will be aiming for our first win against Papua New Guinea, but that does not mean we will be taking them lightly because we understand they have been working hard in preparation for this World Cup,” said the gaffer. Despite facing an uphill task against India and West Indies, the former Black Caps player is confident that his youthful side is going to give its best during the two encounters. “Two games against India and West Indies are extremely difficult but I believe that the challenge will put us in a better place to beat them and progress to the next round. “Overally, we’ve got a good squad that is well-balanced, which I believe, if our batting comes to party and post big scores, we stand a chance to beat India and West Indies,” Harris added.
