Bouyant Lady Chevrons back in action

Brighton Zhawi

The Lady Chevrons will host South Africa’s Emerging Women between May 18 and May 26 at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo.

More importantly for the hosts, it will be the first time the Zimbabwe women’s cricket team will be in action after their upgrade to Test and ODI status by the International Cricket Council (ICC) in April.

Afghanistan and Bangladesh were also awarded the same status.

Although the series against the South Africans has (five) List A games, at the back of their minds Zimbabwe will know they are now players of a different status.

“We are very happy that we got the Test and ODI status. It really means a lot to the women’s game in this country,” ZC chairperson Tavengwa Mukuhlani told The Sunday Mail Sport.

“It means when our team plays, now there is context in their matches, and soon enough we will get to play the best teams . . .

“Women’s cricket has been progressing well over the years, with obviously the sad period in 2019 when we missed out on World Cup qualification and the Global Development Programme in England (due to Zimbabwe’s suspension by ICC).

“But other than that, the women’s game has been on the rise.

“We recently introduced their Pro 50 and T20 domestic competition, and we will keep supporting them.”

Mukuhlani said such developments would lure more partners to Zimbabwe Cricket.

One such partner is Japanese businessman Ali Mohamad’s company AliJapan786, which emerged as the shirt sponsor for the Chevrons’ just-ended series against Pakistan.

The ZC chair said talks were still ongoing with AliJapan786 for a long-term relationship.

There were indications the sponsor was keen on tying up a one-year deal with ZC after the trial run during the Pakistan tour.

“Our deal was for the Pakistan series, but negotiations are ongoing and I can only reveal more when everything is finalised.

“But whether it’s the Zimbabwe Under-19 or women’s team, the door is open for sponsorship because these are all national teams where one can partner Zimbabwe Cricket,” he said.

However, the new status and prospects of sponsorship deals is all the good news the team carries into the series against South Africa.

The Lady Chevrons will be missing six senior players, including captain Mary-Anne Musonda for the five One Day games against the South Africa Emerging side.

Musonda is recovering from a knee injury, while former captain Chipo Mugeri is on maternity leave. Ashley Ndiraya and Nomatter Mutasa are injured and will also miss the tour, while Anesu Mushangwe and Sharne Mayers are in Australia and South Africa, respectively.

Vice captain Josephine Nkomo will lead the team, which have been training at Old Hararians Sports Club and are expected to leave for Bulawayo today.

Zimbabwe coach Adam Chifo, however, remains optimistic of a good show from his side. “We are quite depleted in terms of batting because we are missing four guys who bat in the top order.

“We have got guys here who I am sure will put up a good fight, though.

“This series is obviously part of our preparations for the World Cup qualifiers in December in Sri Lanka,” Chifo said.

He also spoke about their Test status, which he hopes would spur more women to take up the sport. “This is only the beginning and we need to play as much cricket as possible at the highest level. “Women can look at it now as a full-time job, and this should motivate more women across the country to take an interest in the game.”