February 10, 2003	Monday	Zul Hijjah 8,1423

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HARARE, Feb 9: Zimbabwe host Namibia on Monday in a World Cup match of minimal sporting importance but of massive significance to the tournament.

Few matches will be watched more closely, by the game’s administrators at least, following the long-running controversy over whether strife-torn Zimbabwe should be allowed to hosts its six World Cup matches.

England’s players, who lost an appeal to have their Harare game switched to South Africa over security concerns, will also be keen observers of the Group ‘A’ game — they are due to play in the Zimbabwean capital on Thursday.

The Australians, who head for Bulawayo later in the tournament, will surely also boost the television audience.

Heath Streak’s home team seem certain to win the game handsomely against their World Cup debutant opponents, perhaps serving up the odd tournament record on the way.

Most of the attention, however, is likely to remain firmly focused on the effectiveness of the security operation around the venue and on whether the event could be marred by anti-government protests.

Namibia, however, will be determined to enjoy their big-stage debut, earned by their shock runner-up finish to Holland in the 2001 ICC Trophy in Canada.

It was a surprising but deserved honour for the men from the desert dunes on Africa’s south western coast whose success ensured that, for the first time, four teams from the continent would play in the sport’s showpiece event.

Zimbabwe, however, are unlikely to show them any mercy.

After a poor season, winning just two of their limited-overs matches against India, England, Pakistan and Kenya, Streak will demand that his players show total commitment to get into a winning groove.

Andy Flower, one of the sport’s top batsmen and the mainstay of the Zimbabwe batting, is unlikely to miss the opportunity to cash in.

The left-hander, set to play as a specialist batsman after handing over the wicketkeeping gloves to Tatenda Taibu, needs just 46 to reach 6,500 one-day runs.

Opening batsman Dion Ebrahim will also have reason to make a good start to the tournament, whatever the opposition.

The 22-year-old, averaging just over 21 in one-dayers, was a shock inclusion after Alistair Campbell was surprisingly axed from the squad.

Campbell is not the only big name missing. Zimbabwe have lost the hugely influential Neil Johnson and Murray Goodwin, who move abroad after helping the team to the Super Six stage of the 1999 tournament.

There remains, however, plenty of know-how — Andy Flower has already crossed 200 one-dayers — even if Zimbabwe’s younger players have yet to make their mark.

Streak himself, back from the dislocated shoulder suffered in a traffic accident in September, will be playing his 150th One-day International, needing 17 wickets to reach 200.

Namibia — who lost four matches to Zimbabwe ‘A’ by convincing margins in September and October — will probably provide more talking points than genuine points on Monday.

Opening bowler Rudi van Vuuren — a doctor — is set to become the first man to play in both the rugby and cricket World Cups while three sets of brothers could play in a World Cup match for the first time if Namibia field Deon and Bjorn Kotze and Louis and Sarel Burger opposite Andy and Grant Flower.

Teams (from):

ZIMBABWE: Heath Streak (captain), Dion Ebrahim, Mark Vermeulen, Gary Ervine, Andy Flower, Grant Flower, Craig Wishart, Guy Whittall, Tatenda Taibu, Andy Blignaut, Travis Friend, Brian Murphy, Douglas Hondo, Henry Olonga, Douglas Marillier.

NAMIBIA: Deon Kotze (captain), Andries Burger, Louis Burger, Sarel Burger, Morne Karg, Danie Keulder, Bjorn Kotze, Lennie Louw, Gavin Murgatroyd, Gerrie Snyman, Stefan Swanepoel, Burton van Rooi, Melt van Schoor, Rudie van Vuuren, Riaan Walters.

Umpires: David Orchard (South Africa) and Simon Taufel (Australia).

TV umpire: Darrell Hair (Australia).

Match referee: Wasim Raja (Pakistan).—Reuters