In Pallekele (Sri Lanka), Feb 16 Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza stated that his team's surprising victory over Australia would be meaningless if they faltered in the next two matches of the T20 World Cup, and the focus is on maintaining composure after this achievement.
Zimbabwe stunned former champions Australia by 23 runs in Colombo on Friday, and they will aim to defeat Ireland here on Tuesday to secure a strong position for a Super Eights berth.
"We know that this win over Australia is just one part of our journey, and that the next game is the most important one. Hopefully, we can achieve a good result," Raza said at the pre-match press conference.
After the match against Ireland, Zimbabwe, who currently have four points from two matches, will play against the host, Sri Lanka, on February 19 in their last group match.
Raza acknowledged that the next two matches would bring a different level of pressure with the Super Eights qualification hopes on the horizon.
"Yes, it certainly does. It's a great position to be in. We've had two results. The world is talking about Zimbabwe. It's great. But let them do all the talking for us," he said.
"The beauty of these ICC events is that every game feels like a knockout game. And I think it's great for our own mental toughness and growth, especially in handling our own expectations rather than what the world wants from us," Raza added.
"So yes, but you get excited when the destination looks closer. The biggest challenge, for myself and the team, is to try and stay focused on the present and not get too excited about what lies ahead, as long as we can focus on what's right in front of us," he concluded.
When asked if performing on this stage could be life-changing for some of the players, he said, "Yes, certainly. ICC events change lives in every way, whether that's recognition, fame, or financial success. Once you do well in ICC events against any team that comes here, it's a life-changing experience."
"The top 20 teams are here. So yes, it is life-changing, and hopefully, we can keep writing our own history and keep going further than we ever have before," Raza added.
He also expressed his satisfaction with the performance of his pacers – Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava, Brad Evans, and even Tinotenda Maposa.
On the tight schedule of the T20 World Cup, Raza said it has pros and cons, but it has been a "balanced schedule for all the teams."
"The advantage is that sometimes when you're winning, the momentum is there, and you want to play again and again. The disadvantage is that with these conditions, the body doesn't recover as well, so you want to do something, but sometimes it gets tougher to achieve that, whether you're a batter or a bowler," he explained.
"It's pro and con, and it's happening to every team, so I think it has been a very well-balanced schedule for all the teams," Raza concluded.
Ireland all-rounder Mark Adair admitted that Zimbabwe's bowling attack could be one of the best units in that department in this T20 World Cup.
"They're really starting to round out that team and that attack. I think they're probably as good a bowling lineup as you'll find in this competition," Adair said.
"They're a good batting team and have that little bit of explosiveness towards the back, which is something we're looking forward to. We've played a lot against them, and we've seen a lot of these guys. There should be no surprises for us," he added.
Adair also said that having friends and family along with the players has worked well for the team.
"There are a few parents who have been very supportive, and I'd be lying if I said my parents weren't involved as well. But yes, it's brilliant to see them all, and we do have such a close-knit group, and I think it's brilliant that all the parents get along so well," Adair said.
"They were all staying in the same hotel, so there's been a bit of socializing going on as well. It's good to have them, as they're always welcome, and they'll follow us all around the world," he concluded.
On the team's preparation, he said, "We arrived yesterday – around 3 o'clock. The travel was good, although it was a long bus journey. A few boys were a bit stiff after that, but they had a good run around on the outfield this morning to do a bit of fielding."
