adminRicky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
FRANCHISE cricket bosses meet in Harare this afternoon to plan for the 2015-16 season whose kick-off has been pushed back to November due to a tight international cricket schedule. Zimbabwe Cricket has advised the four franchises, Matabeleland Tuskers, Mashonaland Eagles, MidWest Rhinos and Manicaland Mountaineers that the new season will now start on November 4 instead of October 6.
“We’ve been called for a meeting in Harare to plan for the new season. We’ll also be briefed about financing of franchises. It’s at this meeting where we’ll get the calendar for the coming season because the initial programme has been revised due to a tight international programme,” said Stanley Staddon, Matabeleland Tuskers’ chief executive officer.
The busy international schedule starts with Pakistan playing two Twenty20 games and three one-day internationals (ODIs) against Zimbabwe.
Pakistan are expected in the country this week and play their first T20 match on Sunday and the second on Tuesday at Harare Sports Club.
The ODIs are set for October 1, 3 and 5 at the same venue.
After Pakistan’s departure, Ireland will arrive for three ODIs to be played between October 9 and 15 in Harare.
International cricket will then move to Bulawayo’s Queens Sports Club for the limited overs’ series against Afghanistan and Bangladesh.
Afghanistan, who last toured Zimbabwe in 2014, arrive in Bulawayo on October 13 for a three-week visit.
Dates for the Afghanistan one-day matches are October 16, 18, 20, 22 and 24.
Afghanistan will then have a two-day rest before playing the first T20 game on October 27 and wrap up their visit to Bulawayo two days later with the last T20 encounter.
Soon after Afghanistan’s departure, Bangladesh are scheduled to arrive in Bulawayo for a three-week tour on October 31, which will see them competing in three ODIs and two four-dayers.
Bangladesh will play the first of three ODIs on November 3. The next ODI will be played two days later, with the last set for November 7.
After playing the ODIs, Zimbabwe and Bangladesh will battle it out in two four-dayers to be played from November 10-13 and November 17-20.
derick.khumalo