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Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
WHEN Zimbabwe were granted Test cricket status in 1992, Bulawayo Athletic Club became the country’s second prolonged version venue after Harare Sports Club.
BAC hosted a Test match between Zimbabwe and New Zealand in October 1992. Prior to that, BAC was the venue of a One Day International between Zimbabwe and New Zealand on 31 October 1992, a contest the Kiwis won by 22 runs.
The Test match began the following day but was badly hit by rain and lack of adequate cover saw 10 hours of play lost.
When international cricket made a return to the country’s second largest city, the action was moved to the much more spacious Queens Sports Club which has been the venue in Bulawayo ever since, with no action at BAC. Over the years, touring teams have played their warm up matches at BAC which has seen the venue not get much in terms of improvements.
BAC also remains, together with Queens, a home ground for the Bulawayo Metropolitan Tuskers.
Zimbabwe getting the rights to host the International Cricket Council Cricket World Cup Qualifier has come as a blessing for BAC. The picturesque ground is the venue for five group stage matches starting with today’s clash between Afghanistan and Scotland. Zimbabwe, who play three of their group matches at Queens round things off at BAC when they entertain Scotland on 12 March.
With not much ground to put up terraces, a grass embankment has been built and mobile stands were secured to accommodate the fans. Tents as well as temporary structures have also been put up to house the media, match officials and guests at BAC. The scoreboard, which went for years without getting any touch up, was also spruced up in preparation for the tournament.
With rain having pounded the city over the past few weeks, the outfield at BAC is looking much better. Over the years BAC suffered a lot of neglect with most of the attention on Queens and Harare Sports Club but this time around a team of ground staff dedicated to the venue are working tirelessly to ensure its readiness for the tournament.
BAC hosted two warm up matches, Scotland versus Papua New Guinea last Tuesday and Zimbabwe’s clash with PNG two days later.
It might take a number of years before international action makes a return to this intimate venue so the fans might as well take pleasure in the five matches taking place at BAC. -@Mdawini_29
Online Reporter