PHILLIMON MHLANGA
President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Thursday officially opened the Zim Afro T10 cricket league at the Harare Sports Club,BT Sport can report.
The tournament, which runs up to July 29, is coming on the backdrop of the successful 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier that was held in Harare and Bulawayo earlier this month.
A number of international and local cricket stars are anticipated to light up the stage over the course of the next nine days
“This particular event comes against the background where Zimbabwe Cricket has in the last few months been seized with various cricket tournaments including the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Qualifiers.
Thereafter, the organization has also been busy finalizing modalities for hosting this tournament, to ensure that our facilities maintain the high standards which have become synonymous with Zimbabwe. Well done to Zimbabwe Cricket for the great job.
Similarly, I want to express my gratitude to Mr Mulk and T10 Global Sports for investing in the tournament. This dovetails with my government’s efforts towards remodelling our sport and recreation industry into a multi-million-dollar industry, in line with the National Sport and Recreation Policy and quest to promote sport tourism. Allow me also to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to the Sports and Recreation Commission, the Zimbabwe Cricket and the International Cricket Council for sanctioning this tournament. Tournaments such as this one will undoubtedly help inspire our local young talented cricketers, while also facilitating the identification of cricketing talent from across the world. To the players, you have waited long enough for this tournament to happen. I wish that you compete fairly and excite the world with your skills,” President Mnangagwa said.
He added: “I guarantee you that regardless of age, race, background or beliefs, our nation will join together and support the various teams in the uniquely Zimbabwean carnival atmosphere of song and dance.
“I invite you to spare some time to enjoy our many tourist attractions, including our real game that is the BIG 5-the lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard and rhino. I also invite the players and guests who are in Zimbabwe for the first time to visit our premier tourist destinations and one of the seven natural wonders of the world, the Majestic Mosi-Oa-Tunya, the Victoria Falls, the Smoke that Thunders.”
The fast-paced T10 League is the newest version of entertaining cricket that has taken the globe by storm, since its inception in Sharjar in 2017. It’s a unique format that sees 10 overs per innings which is roughly 90 minutes of fast-paced game.
Fixtures
Today: Cape Town Samp Army vs Lahore Qalandars (3pm), Johanesburg Buffaloes vs Bulawayo Braves(5pm), Harare Hurricanes vs Cape Town Samp Army (7pm).
