adminThe International Cricket Council Women’s World Cup is set for India.
In an interview yesterday, Nkiwane said they have managed to come up with three select sides which would play in a local league scheduled to start in December.
She said the league would be used to scout for provincial and national team players.
Lack of funding was one of the factors that led to women’s cricket taking a nosedive but Tuskers has received a significant amount to resuscitate the sport through their Marange Resources sponsorship package.
“We were supposed to start our league on Saturday but we have decided to postpone it to the first weekend of December as most of the girls who play cricket are now preparing for their examinations. What we want is to get back some of our former cricketers so that they help these youngsters.
“I believe our league is going to be bigger and better because we have a portion for women’s cricket from the total Marange Resources sponsorship availed to the franchise. I do not have the figures but it should be adequate to meet our needs,” said Nkiwane.
Marange Resources are Tuskers’ main sponsors and they also bankroll the Zimbabwe National Women’s Soccer League as part of their social responsibility programmes.
Nkiwane said most of their players have been active at schools’ cricket which has been running for two terms.
She said they would also organise a friendly game against Matabeleland North.
“What we want is to have a strong provincial squad that can take on any province. The scouts are already looking for cricketers for next year’s World Cup and if we have a strong side which plays regularly against other franchises, the better the chances of having our girls selected for the national team.
“We have already talked to some of our former players who are keen on donning the national team jersey to come and play the sport so that they encourage these promising girls,” said Nkiwane.
Lorraine Tshuma of Mpopoma High School is in the running for a ZC Women’s Cricket Promising Player of the Year and is one of Tuskers’ players likely to get a place in the national team.
Bulawayo used to have a number of cricketers in the women’s national team who include former captain Shane Mayers, Thando Mlilo who won an award at the ZC 2010 ceremony for being a top player and Sinikiwe “Sneeze” Mpofu, a former Mpopoma High School student.
Mlilo and Mpofu are now scorers in the inter-franchise matches.
Nkiwane said Mayers and Mlilo also play social cricket to keep fit while Mpofu is a now a member of Masvingo’s Southern Rocks women’s team.
Online Reporter