![\"Untitled-9\"](\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/thumb\/imgsize-23456,msid-95146504,width-600,resizemode-4\/95146504.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
(PTI Photo)<\/span>
“My dream was to see them qualify for the T20 World Cup in Australia. This is like icing on the cake and I can’t be more proud of my boys,” said Rajput, who was also coach of the Indian team when MS Dhoni’s men created history winning the inaugural edition back in 2007.
Rajput was with the team till the qualifiers and then wanted some downtime with his family during the Diwali season and hence didn’t travel to Australia.
Everything that had to go wrong went wrong<\/span>
Once the Neil Johnsons, Flower brothers, Murray Goodwins, Paul Strangs, Henry Olongas and Heath Streaks left the scene, Zimbabwe cricket was in doldrums.
Blame it on administrative ineptitude or decline in players’ quality, poor pay structure, things got from bad to worse by the time government suspended the cricket board and the ICC in turn suspended Zimbabwe from international cricket for six months. <\/p>\n\n
\n
1<\/span>\/9<\/p>\nThe Biggest Upsets of the T20 World Cup<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n
Show Captions<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
<p>Sean Williams’ valiant 31 and the late hitting of Brad Evans took Zimbabwe to 130. In the second innings, Zimbabwe bowlers rattled the Pak top and middle-order. Massod and Nawaz tried to rebuild the innings and took it to the last over but Brad Evans’s brave bowling ensured a historic win against Pakistan.<\/p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
<p>Outstanding innings of 62 off 47 balls by Irish skipper Balbirnie took Ireland to 157. In the second innings, Joshua Little dismissed both the openers early in the run chase. Moeen Ali tried to take England to winning ways but rain played spoilsport and as per DLS method England were 5 runs short.<\/p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
<p>Opting to bat first, Brandon King\u2019s fighting innings of 62 off 48 ensured West Indies reached 146. In the second innings, Paul Stirling and captain Balbirine smashed West Indies bowlers out of the park and in the end, Tucker\u2019s 45 off 35 ensured a comfortable win against the two-time champions.<\/p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
<p>Though Namibia is out of the World Cup, they stunned the Lankan Lions. In the first innings, Jan Frylinck\u2019s 44 ensured Namibia made 163. While chasing, Sri Lanka\u2019s batting was dismantled by Namibian bowlers and they were beaten by 55 runs.<\/p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
<p>While batting first, Australia were restricted to 138 for 9 thanks to Elton Chigumbura\u2019s 3\/20. In the second innings, Brendan Taylor\u2019s heroic knock of 60 not out ensured their first win against mighty Australia in T20Is.<\/p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
<p>In the first innings, Ireland reduced Bangladesh to 90\/6 at one stage but they recovered to post 137. In the second innings, Brien brothers knocks, especially Kevin O\u2019Brien\u2019s 39 off 17 balls, ensured a historic win for Ireland.<\/p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
<p>Nadeem Ahmed\u2019s 4\/21 rattled Bangladesh who were bowled out for just 108. While chasing the target, 40-year-old Munir Dar stayed calm making 36 (27) and ensuring a historic win against Bangladesh.<\/p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
<p>With the partnership of Myburg and Barresi, Netherlands scored 133 batting first. In the second innings, Bukhari and van Beek rampaged with their bowling and reduced England\u2019s innings to 88 and made history. It was the second time that the Dutch team defeated England.<\/p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
The situation has improved on the administrative front though players and Rajput himself are directly paid for their services by the ICC.
Star batter Sikandar Raza has scored an astounding five ODI hundreds in 2022 only and his only 50 over ton before the 2022 season had come way back in 2015.
On Wednesday, Raza with his off-breaks took four wickets and turned the match head on and eventually kept Zimbabwe in the hunt for a semi-final berth.
“Sikandar is an emotional boy. He is a late bloomer at 36. I remember few years back when I took charge, I asked him, “Tuney kitne matches Zimbabwe ko jeetayein hain.
“He hadn’t scored a hundred for a long time. He was happy getting 40s and odd 50 which kept his place in the team secured.”
Rajput, a former Test opener, then brought out the ‘khadoos’ Mumbaikar in him and had a heart-to-heart chat with seniors like Williams, Ervine and Raza and skipper Regis Chakabva.
“I told them, guys, if you seniors are not going to put your hands up and take more responsibility in winning games, no point in playing for Zimbabwe then.
“If the team has to lose, I would prefer to pick youngsters and not think about results. It did work as their mindset changed.”
When Afghanistan’s loss was Zimbabwe’s gain<\/span>
Rajput actually had no plans of coaching Zimbabwe as he was happy coaching the Afghanistan team in Greater Noida.
But things went off track when ACB officials wanted him to come to Kabul to prepare the U-19 national team for the Junior World Cup.
“I had specifically told them I will never go to Kabul. So the moment they insisted, I resigned. It was covered by the media and then Makoni within a week called me and offered me the head coach’s job,” said Rajput, who had also coached India A.
Once Rajput had taken care of their initial camp and Zimbabwe beat Bangladesh for the first time in a Test match in more than 20 years in an away series, he was offered a three-year contract.
“I started watching a lot of domestic and club cricket. I would be in Harare, Bulawayo, Mutare. That’s how I spotted left-arm pacer Richard Ngarava, who bowled 15 dots against Pakistan,” he said.
In fact, what makes Rajput’s chest swell with pride is the fact that Pakistan captain Babar Azam has never scored big against Zimbabwe pace attack comprising Blessing Muzarabani and Ngarava.
“Pakistan has a world class pace attack but batting is a two-man army. Their middle-order is below ordinary and only Shadab Khan looks a competent player.
“Mohammed Nawaz is good against spinners but will always struggle against a good pace attack. 130 wasn’t a big score but it was a splendid bowling and fielding effort.”
So will he come to Australia if Zimbabwe make it to the last four stage? “Let’s see. I haven’t decided yet,” he laughed while signing off. <\/div>\n