ZC dish out 15 central contracts

ZIMBABWE skipper Brendan Taylor leads the cast of 15 players who have been awarded central contracts for the 2014/ 15 cricket season.
The announcement by Zimbabwe Cricket, of the 15 centrally-contracted players, came on the day it was revealed Zimbabwe will play their first three-match Test series in more than 13 years when they tour Bangladesh in October later this year.

The Zimbabweans last played three Tests against Sri Lanka in December 2001.

For Bangladesh, this will mark the third time that they have played three Tests in a series since becoming a Test nation in 2000, having last done so in July 2007.

This is also the first of six possible series between the two sides till 2022. The two sides met last year in Zimbabwe when they drew the two-Test series 1-1, while Zimbabwe took ODIs 2-1. Zimbabwe arrive in Dhaka on October 17 and after playing a three-day match in Fatullah, they will contest the first Test in Chittagong from October 26.

The second Test will also be held in Chittagong from November 3, after which the teams will travel back to the capital for the third Test from November 11 at the Shere Bangla National Stadium.

The first three matches of the ODI series will be held in Dhaka after which the teams will go back to Chittagong to play the last two ODIs.

The BCB decided to stick to only Dhaka and Chittagong this time because the Sylhet Stadium will be undergoing ground work in the coming months.

ZC yesterday announced that 15 players, led by Taylor, will get central contracts.

The others are Sikandar Raza Butt, Regis Chakabva, Tendai Chatara, Elton Chigumbura, Hamilton Masakadza, Shingirai Masakadza, Tinotenda Mawoyo, Natsai M’shangwe, Tinashe Panyangara, Vusimuzi Sibanda, Prosper Utseya, Brian Vitori, Malcolm Waller and Sean Williams.

Six players have been offered winter contracts which will cover the period July to August 2014, so that they will be available for Zimbabwe’s international commitments during that time.

The six are — Donald Tiripano, John Nyumbu, Mark Vermeulen, Timycen Maruma, Richmond Mutumbami and Michael Chinouya The six on winter contracts are eligible for the franchise contracts that ZC will offer for the 2014 /15 season.

There will be a total of 40 franchise contracts, with each of the four franchises — Mashonaland Eagles, Matabeleland Tuskers, MidWest Rhinos and Mountaineers — having 10.

Meanwhile, fifties from Mutumbami, Chakabva and Maruma helped Zimbabwe A complete a clinical chase of 269 against Afghanistan with two overs to spare in Bulawayo on Tuesday.

The hosts lost Brian Chari in the third over of the chase, but a 94-run stand between Mutumbami and Forster Mutizwa put them back on track.

Mutizwa eventually fell for 33, but another big partnership — 140 for the third wicket — all but secured Zimbabwe A’s seven-wicket win.

Mutumbami retired hurt for 73 during his third-wicket association with Chakabva, but his replacement Maruma struck 63 off 62 balls to ensure Zimbabwe A did not lose any ground.

Maruma was trapped lbw by Aftab Alam in the 43rd over, but Chakabva remained unbeaten on 72 with six fours and a six to steer his team home.

Having lost the toss, Afghanistan had recovered from the loss of three early wickets to post 268 for 7 from their 50 overs.

The innings was built around Nasir Jamal’s unbeaten 64 and his 67-run stand for the sixth wicket with Gulbadin Naib, who smashed two fours and three sixes during a 30-ball 43.

Medium-pacer Luke Jongwe picked up three wickets for Zimbabwe A, but was expensive and leaked 74 runs in his ten overs. — Sports Reporter/Cricinfo.