Zimbabwe made their debut in cricket World Cup in 1983 and they surprised everybody by defeating Australia by 13 runs in the very first match. But the minnows never had any great moment in the quadrennial tournament till 1999 when they first made the second stage of the tournament after beating strong teams like South Africa and India.

[See WC 2015 team profiles]

They also made the last six in the 2003 edition which they had co-hosted along with South Africa and Kenya.

In the 2015 World Cup, Zimbabwe are clubbed with India, Pakistan, South Africa, West Indies, Ireland and the UAE in Pool B.

Here is Zimbabwe's schedule at WC 2015: Vs South Africa (Feb 15), Vs UAE (Feb 19), Vs West Indies (Feb 24), Vs Pakistan (Mar 1), Vs Ireland (Mar 7), Vs India (Mar 14) []

WC 2015 squad: Elton Chigumbura (capt), Sikandar Raza, Regis Chakabva, Tendai Chatara, Chamu Chibhabha, Craig Ervine, Tafadzwa Kamungozi, Hamilton Masakadza, Stuart Matsikenyeri, Solomon Mire, Tawanda Mupariwa, Tinashe Panyangara, Brendan Taylor (wk), Prosper Utseya, Sean Williams.

Zimbabwe's best performance: Super-six stage in 1999 and 2003.

Zimbabwe's success percentage in WC: 21.87% (played 51, won 10, lost 37, tied 1, no results 3)

Most matches as captain: Alistair Campbell, David Houghton & Heath Streak (all 8 matches with Campbell having the best record of winning 3, losing 4, no results 1)

Highest team score: 340/2 vs Namibia in 2003

Lowest team score: 99 vs Pakistan in 2007

Most number of matches in WC for NZ: Andy Flower (30)

Zimbabwe's highest scorer in WC: Andy Flower (815 runs in 30 matches at an average of 32.60, best 115 not out)

Most number of wickets for Zimbabwe in WC: Heath Streak (22 wickets in 22 matches, best 3 for 35)

Highest individual score by a Zimbabwean in WC: Craig Wishart (172 not out vs Namibia in 2003)

Best bowling figures by a Zimbabwean in WC: Paul Strang (5 for 21 vs Kenya in 1996)

Biggest win for Zimbabwe in WC: Vs Kenya by 5 wickets in 1996 and 1999, Vs Canada by 175 runs in 2011

Narrowest win for Zimbabwe in WC: Vs Kenya by 5 wickets in 1996 and 1999, vs India by 3 runs in 1999

Biggest loss for Zimbabwe in WC: Vs West Indies and New Zealand by 10 wickets in 1983 & 2011, respectively; vs Pakistan by 9 wickets in 1999, vs South Africa by 148 runs in 1999

Narrowest loss for Zimbabwe in WC: Vs Sri Lanka by 3 wickets in 1992, vs New Zealand by 3 runs in 1987

Looking back at Zimbabwe's WC performance in since 1983 when they made their debut:

1983: Zimbabwe had a dream debut in World Cup when they beat Australia by 13 runs at Trent Bridge. Skipper Duncan Fletcher's magnificent all-round performance (69 not out and four for 42) helped the Africans shock the finalists of 1975. They, however, lost the remaining five matches to end at the end of the group table.

1987: This edition was a complete disaster for the Zimbabweans as they failed to win a single match in six outings. John Traicos was the captain of the side in this edition.

1992: Led by David Houghton, Zimbabwe experienced another disastrous World Cup Down Under. They lost seven matches on the trot before pulling out a surprise victory over England.

Zimbabwe pulled off a 9-run victory over finalists England in 1992 WC

Eddo Brandes's four for 21 saw his team restricting the English batsmen to 125, just nine runs short of Zimbabwe's 134. Andy Flower made his debut in this World Cup with an excellent 115 not out against Sri Lanka at New Plymouth but could not avert defeat.

1996: Led by Andy Flower, the African side could win one out of five matches in the group stages and that too against debutants Kenya. Paul Strang's five for 21 against Kenya in Patna remains the best bowling figure for the Zimbabweans in the World Cup.

1999: Zimbabwe's best World Cup till date. The African side beat India by 3 runs and South Africa by 48 runs to advance to the Super Six stage with four points.

In the Super Six stage, though the side led by Alistair Campbell could not win any matches (game against New Zealand abandoned and defeats against Australia and Pakistan) but Neil Johnson's 132 not out against the mighty Australians at the Lord's while chasing 303 was one of the best knocks of the tournament.

Johnson, in fact, was Zimbabwe's hero in this edition, both with the bat and the ball.

2003: Zimbabwe's second-best World Cup performance so far. Playing on the home turf, they got a walkover from England and beat Namibia and the Netherlands to reach the Super Six stage along with Australia and India. But the side led by Heath Streak lost all three matches in the Super Six stage, including against semifinalists Kenya to finish at the end of the table.

2007: Prosper Utseya became the seventh man to lead Zimbabwe in the World Cup but the team could not do much apart from managing a tie against debutants Ireland.

2011: Elton Chigumbura led Zimbabwe in this World Cup but the Africans could only register two mammoth victories against minnows Canada (by 175 runs) and Kenya (by 161 runs)

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