Online Reporter
Brandon Moyo, Zimpapers Sports Hub
THE wait for domestic cricket is over as the 2025/26 domestic season is set to get underway this morning with two matches lined up for the opening round of matches, at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo and at Kwekwe Sports Club.
With a packed schedule of back-to-back Logan Cup and Pro50 Championship matches, the campaign is designed to give players maximum exposure across formats.
In Bulawayo, Tuskers will launch their campaign at Queens Sports Club, facing Southern Rocks in four-day action before the two sides meet again in the one-day competition, the Pro50 Championship. At Kwekwe Sports Club, Rhinos will be hosting Eagles at Kwekwe Sports Club.
Pro50 Championship encounters will be played three days later, on 31 October.
The second round sees Tuskers staying in Bulawayo to take on defending champions Mega Market Mountaineers while Rhinos host Southern Rocks at Kwekwe Sports Club in Logan Cup matches scheduled for 6 to 9 November.
The corresponding Pro50 Championship fixtures are set for 11 November at the same venues.
The next block of fixtures moves to Mutare and Harare, with Mountaineers hosting Southern Rocks at Mutare Sports Club and Eagles welcoming Tuskers to Harare Sports Club. The four-day matches are scheduled for 17 to 20 November, with the one-day encounters following on 22 November.
From 28 November to 1 December, Eagles remain in the capital to host Mountaineers in Logan Cup action before the sides meet again for their Pro50 Championship tie on 3 December.
Over the same period, Tuskers face Southern Rocks at Queens Sports Club in both formats.
The final round before the festive break will see Mountaineers clash with Rhinos at Mutare Sports Club and Rocks take on Eagles at Masvingo Sports Club, first in Logan Cup fixtures from 9 to 12 December, followed by the Pro50 Championship contests on 14 December.
Domestic action will then pause for the holiday season and resume in the New Year.
Teams on bye during these rounds will play one-day matches against the Zimbabwe Under-19 side, offering the young squad valuable preparation ahead of the ICC Men’s Under-19 Cricket World Cup 2026, which Zimbabwe will co-host in January.
Mountaineers head into the new campaign as the team to beat after completing a memorable domestic double last season, winning both the Logan Cup and Pro50 Championship.
Zimbabwe Cricket also confirmed the coaching staff for the new campaign as follows:
Eagles: Erick Chauluka remains head coach, with Chamunorwa Chibhabha doubling as assistant coach and team manager. Craig Ervine will serve as player/assistant coach.
Mountaineers: Stuart Matsikenyeri continues as head coach, with Donald Tiripano as assistant coach/manager, while Tendai Chatara has been named as player/assistant coach.
Rhinos: Adam Chifo and Alouis Tichana have retained their roles as head coach and assistant coach/manager, with Brendan Taylor joining as player/assistant coach.
Southern Rocks: Njabulo Ncube remains head coach, with Tatenda Maponga as assistant coach/manager and Cephas Zhuwao as player/assistant coach.
Tuskers: Dion Ebrahim takes over as head coach, with Chris Mpofu as assistant coach/manager and Brian Chari as player/assistant coach.
