Bulawayo sidelined

Mehluli Sibanda Acting Sports Editor
CRICKET fans in Bulawayo and other parts of the country continue to be sidelined in the allocation of international cricket matches which are all being played in Harare. Harare Sports Club to be precise, already the venue of visits to the country by India and New Zealand this year will be used when Pakistan come to Zimbabwe at the end of the month and for the Ireland tour next month.

Indications earlier in the year had been that with a lot of international matches lined up for Zimbabwe this year, Bulawayo was going to get a fair share of the action.
Reports which have not yet been confirmed by ZC show that Bulawayo venues will only be used for the visits by Afghanistan and Bangladesh A later on next month which are insignificant matches.

ZC media and a communications manager Lovemore Banda had not responded to questions sent to him to explain who decides that the bulk of international matches be played in Harare at the time of going to press.

In the past Banda has attributed that kind of planning to logistics, without explaining any further details.
Sources have revealed that flights and accommodation are the biggest considerations when matches are being moved outside the capital city. International teams as well as umpires from foreign nations have to be flown from Harare and have to be put up in three-star accommodation.

Bulawayo Metropolitan Cricket Association chairman Vumindaba Moyo, a member of the ZC board said most decisions on the tours were made before they were voted in as decision makers. Bulawayo-based recently elected ZC chairman Tavengwa Mukuhlani asked for calm from those outside Harare, saying things will change in terms of distribution of international matches as time goes on.