We’ll prove that we deserve to be there, says Streak
Tuesday, March 4 2003 19:28 Hrs (IST)

Bulawayo: Zimbabwe skipper Heath Streak vowed on Tuesday that his team would not be outclassed when it begins its World Cup Super Six campaign.

Streak's men made sure of their place in the second stage of the tournament after its final Group ‘A’ game with Pakistan in Bulawayo was abandoned because of rain.

The two points gained were enough for them to join fellow qualifiers Australia and India and kill off the hopes of rivals England and Pakistan.

"All of the guys are elated to have got to the Super Sixes," said Streak. "It's so special because everyone has worked so hard and now we have got three big games coming up.

"We challenged the Australians really closely when they played here so we are hopeful that we can prove to everyone that we deserve to be there."

Streak refused to get into a slanging match with England whose decision to boycott its game in Harare eventually proved its undoing and gave Zimbabwe an extra push along the way to the next stage.

"Whatever England decided to do was out of our control, just like the weather today was out of our control," said the skipper. "Although it must have been quite exasperating for teams like them to have to sit and watch and wait to see what was happening in other games."

Zimbabwe gets its Super Six campaign underway on Saturday against New Zealand in Bloemfontein.

Copyright AFP 2001

Extras:
Rain seals Pak's fate, helps Zim through to Super Six