adminZIMBABWE Cricket is set to open another chapter in the development of the game this weekend when the newly established Zimbabwe Premier League, a national club cricket competition, gets underway.
Eight teams will be involved in the 50-over one-day games competition, with the side finishing with the most points after seven rounds of matches winning the coveted championship.
“ZPL is a very important competition involving Zimbabwe’s top clubs fighting it out for the national honours,” ZC head of cricket affairs Givemore Makoni said.
“It’s top-notch cricket with all national team players not in the Test side expected to turn out for clubs in the league. This means youngsters will get the chance to play with and against experienced international players, which will quickly bring them through.”
There are three teams from Harare Metropolitan and Mashonaland Central (Takashinga Patriots 1, Takashinga Patriots 2 and Rainbow) in the league, while Bulawayo Metropolitan and Matabeleland North will provide two sides (Amakhosi and Inkatha).
Manicaland and Mashonaland East will have a single team, Eastern Lions, while Mashonaland West and Midlands will be represented in the competition by Muzvezve Tigers.
As a reward for winning the Associate Provincial League, Masvingo’s Southern Lions are in as the eighth team.
ZPL action roars to life this Saturday with Takashinga Patriots 1 and Rainbow tussling it out at Takashinga Sports Club in Harare.
In other first-week fixtures scheduled for the same day, Amakhosi and Eastern Lions will face off at Masvingo Sports Club, as Inkhatha and Takashinga Patriots 2 clash at Kwekwe Sports Club.
Southern Lions and Muzvezve round off this Saturday’s action when they lock horns at Old Harareans.
To ensure the league is very competitive, each club has registered at least three players who have represented the senior national team or Zimbabwe A, while the playing XI must include at least one Under-19 player.
The next round of ZPL matches is scheduled for July 3. — ZimCricket
Online Reporter