Zim Afro T10 League to become US$1bn industry

Brandon Moyo, Sports Reporter 

PRESIDENT Mnangagwa has said the Zim Afro T10 League is anticipated to be a US$1 billion industry while attracting cricket fans from nearby countries.

In a speech delivered on his behalf by the Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, Kazembe Kazembe at the official launch of the Zim Afro T10 League in Harare on Friday, President Mnangagwa said the offshoots of this competition should benefit the country’s tourism sector. 

“The T10 in Zimbabwe is expected to be a US$1 to 2 billion industry. It is expected to attract cricket fans from neighbouring countries thus have spin-off benefits to restaurants, hotels, tourism and enhance Brand Zimbabwe,’’ President Mnangagwa said. 

Zimbabwe Cricket, in partnership with T Ten Global Sports, on Friday evening launched the country’s franchise based T10 tournament. The eagerly awaited inaugural edition of the new competition will be played in August this year, with six privately-owned teams involved and aims at featuring big names from cricket from across the world. 

Last year, ZC announced that they are planning to introduce an international 10-over league and the participating franchises, player auction dates, fixtures and other details will be announced in due course.

The Zimbabwean league is set to the latest 10-over match tournament to be established by T Ten Global Sports, with the other championships being the Abu Dhabi T10 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Lanka 10 in Sri Lanka.

ZC chairman Tavengwa Mukuhlani said he was confident the league will provide great entertainment for the fans, top-level competition for the players and vast exposure for the investors. 

“We are thrilled to unveil our own franchise-based T10 league, a powerful format that we believe is exactly what our changing, fast-paced world needs right now. We are confident the Zim Afro T10 League will excite a global fan base, create massive mileage for its commercial partners and, more importantly, propel our cricket forward and lay a positive roadmap for how the game  is perceived for future generations,” said Mukuhlani. 

T Ten Global Sports Founder and chairman, Nawab Shaji Ul Mulk, the UAE-based investor behind the state-of-the-art Zim Cyber-City real estate project that is being developed in Mount Hampden on the outskirts of Harare, said he is excited to be bringing the magic of T10 cricket to Zimbabwe.

“As our association with cricket continues to grow, we are delighted to bring to Zimbabwe an exciting format that will not only advance the reach, attractiveness and growth of the sport, but will also present a massive opportunity for private investment into the franchises. We wish to thank Zimbabwe Cricket for accepting our proposal to invest in this game-changer and we are looking forward to an incredible journey together,” he added. 

Zimbabwe will however, be no strangers to T10 cricket having hosted a 10-over league last year in Harare for different clubs from around the country.

Part of the delegates at the launch of the league were the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Monica Mutsvangwa, her husband Ambassador Christopher Mutsvangwa, Defence and War Veterans Affairs Minister Oppah Muchinguri- Kashiri, Deputy Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation Tino Machakaire as well as Deputy Minister of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Barbara Rwodzi. Also present at the launch were ZC managing director, Givemore Makoni and Zim Cyber-City chief executive officer Tendayi Hlupo-Mamvura. -@brandon_malvin