Chronicle Editor
Eddie Chikamhi, Senior Sports Reporter
INDIAN cricket legend Irfan Pathan has described the Zim Cyber City Zim Afro T10 as a good platform for local players to develop skills that should help them go beyond their limits in the game.
The bowling all-rounder, who was a member of the Indian cricket team that won the inaugural 2007 ICC Twenty20 World Cup and 2013 ICC Champions Trophy, is one of the several, current and former, international cricket stars featuring in Zimbabwe’s inaugural T10 League.
A veteran of 29 Tests, 120 ODIs and 24 T20Is for India, Pathan is playing for Harare Hurricanes, captained by another former World Cup winner Eoin Morgan of England.
Speaking ahead of yesterday’s thrilling Super Over victory over log leaders Cape Town Samp Army, Pathan said the legends are hoping their experience will rub off on the Zimbabwean players, who are often starved of exposure to higher competitions.
“It (Zim Cyber City Zim Afro T10) is so good for Zimbabwe cricket. And what I saw, especially with the crowd, I love coming to Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe is one of my favourite places to come and play because I’ve had some fond memories playing for India here.
“When I see the happiness around the people. I just feel so good because everywhere you go on the field at this stadium, people are smiling. So, when you see that, you always want good for them,” Irfan said.
Hurricanes recorded their third win of the tournament courtesy of the Super Over eliminator after both teams had ended their innings tied on 115 runs.
Donovan Ferreira gave Hurricanes a solid base to build on with his unbeaten 87 runs on their way to 115/6. Samp Army’s Sheldon Cottrell took an amazing 3/2, while Richard Ngarava chipped in with 2/26.
In their response the Samp Army nearly bagged the game, thanks to Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s 56. But Hurricanes had S Sreesanth defend eight runs in the final over to take the game into the Super Over, where batters Mohammad Nabi and Donovan Ferreira kept a calm head to seal an important win.
The competition in the Zim Afro T10 League has been top notch. Pathan is featuring in the format for the first time and has found the experience inspiring.
“I have never played T10 before, so it is a challenge for me. But you need to be fearless in this format, like fearless in the sense that if you get out trying to hit big sixes and you get out like that in a couple of games, in the third game when you come back, you need to do the same thing.
“So, it’s all about trusting your abilities. It’s all about coming back every day and making sure you can add value to your team. This is what I’ll say to another player as well – always keep coming back with the same effort,” said Pathan.
The Indian legend, who comes with plenty of experience in terms of franchise and white-ball cricket, noted the Zim Afro T10 is one of the best things to happen to the Zimbabwean cricket calendar.
“Matches like these and a tournament like the Zim Cyber City Zim Afro T10 will help Zimbabwe cricket to grow because every team needs to play a certain number of Zimbabwean players, young players, so that will eventually help Zimbabwean cricket. Zimbabwe cricket will definitely reap the benefit of this tournament and set-up.”
The very well-travelled and experienced former Indian cricketer also opened up about how a tournament such as this will benefit the younger players from the Zimbabwean cricket family.
Having broken into the Indian team at the age of 19, he believes his story could be an inspiration.
“I have always felt that what youngsters need is not so much technical analysis, especially at that time when the game is moving so fast, but you just need to put an arm around them and give them a couple of words to boost their confidence.
“But, make sure that you help make them a leader. Don’t tell them what to do, but make a situation for them, where you actually allow them to lift the game and I personally think this is what I can do as a senior player.”
In the other game, Tim Seifert helped Durban Qalandars win a thriller against Joburg Buffaloes by two runs. Buffaloes featured in another game against Bulawayo Braves last night.
Summary Scores:
Harare Hurricanes – 115/6 (Donovan Ferreira – 87*, Luke Jongwe – 10*; Sheldon Cottrell – 3/2, Richard Ngarava – 2/26) tied against
Cape Town Samp Army – 115/4 (Rahmanullah Gurbaz – 56, Karim Janat – 16; Samit Patel – 2/23, Sreesanth – 1/5)
Super Over –
Cape Town Samp Army – 7/1 (Karim Janat – 5*, Matthew Breetzke – 1, Nandre Burger – 1/7) lost to Harare Hurricanes – 8/0 (Mohammad Nabi – 4*, Donovan Ferreira – 2*; Peter Hatzoglou – 0/8)
Durban Qalandars – 121/3 (Tim Seifert – 46, Asif Ali – 31*; Wellington Masakadza – 2/22, Ravi Bopara – 1/11) won by 2 runs against
Joburg Buffaloes – 119/5 (Yusuf Pathan – 32, Mohammad Hafeez – 30; Mohammad Amir – 2/23, Tendai Chatara – 1/16)
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