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Eddie Chikamhi-Senior Sports Reporter
GLOBAL cricket icons headlined by World Cup winners David Warner of Australia and former West Indies captain Carlos Brathwaite are set to flock to Zimbabwe for the second edition of the Zim-Afro T10 tournament that is set to explode into life later this month.
After a successful debut season in 2023, organisers have confirmed cricket’s fastest and most entertaining format will be back for yet another blockbuster season of enthralling match-ups.
The organisers T-Ten Global Sports said the upcoming season of T10 cricket promises to be bigger and better, with six teams expected to participate in Harare from September 21 to 29.
The player draft is expected to take place tomorrow.
So far the six franchises have signed their icon and global super stars as direct signings before going into the draft, to complete their 15-man squad with an additional 16th player as their Global Icon.
The squad will have as many as six local Zimbabwe players and icon and global star can also be from Zimbabwe.
Australian opener Warner who recently retired from international cricket and the hard-hitting former Windies opener have been signed by Bulawayo Braves Jaguars.
Cape Town Samp Army went shopping and returned with England’s David Willey and Dawid Malan, Afghanistan’s Gulbadin Naib and Qais Ahmed.
The Durban Wolves have brought in New Zealanders Colin Munro and Mark Chapman along with Pakistan’s left-handed power hitter Sharjeel Khan and Yasir Shah.
The Harare Bolts roped in James Neesham and the Jo’Burg Bangla Tigers locked in Chris Lynn from Australia.
The New York Strikers Lagos side have picked Zimbabwean pace bowler Blessing Mazarabani as one of their big guns, along with Thisara Perera (Sri Lanka), Asif Ali (Pakistan).
T-Ten Global Sports founder and chairman Nawab Shaji Ul Mulk is confident of hosting another blockbuster event.
“We’re gearing up for an exciting season, and this one is extra special for many reasons.
“Following last year’s amazing success in Zimbabwe, the excitement is off the charts, and we’re thrilled to start in Harare.
“The anticipation and enthusiasm are palpable, and we’re eager to see how the format continues to captivate cricket fans worldwide,” he said.
Zim Afro T10 will be followed by Season 2 of the US Masters League, Abu Dhabi T10 and the inaugural Lanka T10 will conclude the season in December.
Sri Lanka is set to become the second ICC Full Member nation, after Zimbabwe, to embrace the T10.
The Lanka T10 will immediately establish itself as a key event on the Sri Lankan cricket calendar, showcasing the fastest and most thrilling format of the game.
Zim-Afro T10 Direct Signings
Harare Bolts: Dasun Shanaka (Sri Lanka: Global Superstar), James Neesham (New Zealand: Icon), George Munsey (Scotland), Rishad Hossain (Bangladesh), Shehan Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka), Kennar Lewis (West Indies).
Bulawayo Braves Jaguars: David Warner (Australia: Icon), Carlos Brathwaite (West Indies), Nick Hobson (Australia), Kobe Herft (Australia)
Durban Wolves: Colin Munro (New Zealand: Global Superstar), Mark Chapman (New Zealand: Icon), Will Smeed (England), Sharjeel Khan (Pakistan), Muhammad Irfan (Pakistan), Yasir Shah (Pakistan)
Cape Town Samp Army: Haider Ali (Pakistan: Global Superstar), David Willey (England: Icon), Dawid Malan (England), Gulbadin Naib (Afghanistan), Qais Ahmed (Afghanistan), Adam Rossington (England), Shahnawaz Dahani (Pakistan)
NYS Lagos: Blessing Muzarabani (Zimbabwe: Global Superstar), Thisara Perera (Sri Lanka: Icon), Asif Ali (Pakistan), Najibullah Zadran (Afghanistan), Binura Fernando (Sri Lanka), Akhilesh Bogudum (USA), Oshane Thomas (West Indies).
Jo’Burg Bangla Tigers: Chris Lynn (Australia: Global Superstar), Kusal Perera (Sri Lanka: Icon), Charith Asalanka (Sri Lanka), Hazratullah Zazai (Afghanistan), Adam Milne (New Zealand), Luke Wood (England), Karim Janat (Afghanistan)
Online Reporter