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Eddie Chikamhi-Senior Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE Cricket are pushing for the 2025 edition of the exciting Zim Afro T10 tournament to be held in Bulawayo for the first time next year as part of their expansion programme.
Speaking on Sunday evening after the Season two final that was successfully held at the Harare Sports Club, ZC chairman Tavengwa Mukuhlani indicated the association was engaging the tournament investors T Ten Global Sports’ chairman Nawab Shaji Ul Mulk, and his local partners led by businessman Paul Tungwarara of Prevail Group International, to consider bringing the game to the country’s second largest city.
The Zim Afro T10, which began last year, is set to become a permanent feature on the Zimbabwe Cricket calendar.
The world’s newest, fast-paced, and thrilling cricket format has managed to stir up interest among local cricket fans and has earned a growing global audience.
“I want to thank Mr. Shaji Ul Mulk for keeping his commitment and his promise that this tournament will be part of our tours programme for Zimbabwe Cricket,” said Mukuhlani.
“Let me also announce that this tournament, this time of the year, will be a permanent feature of our cricket programme.
“Furthermore, I would want to ask Mr Shaji Mulk and his partner Mr Tungwarara that the next edition, which will be the third edition of the Zim Afro T10, be held at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo.
“That speaks to our spirit of spreading the game to all the corners of Zimbabwe,” said Mukuhlani.
Queen’s Sports Club is one of the country’s two premier cricket stadiums, which are also set to stage the International Cricket Council World Cup games when Zimbabwe co-hosts the event with South Africa and Namibia in 2027.
Plans are already underway to upgrade the stadium and install floodlights for the evening games that have added an extra thrill to the T10 event in the last two editions.
JoBurg Bangla Tigers, featuring Zimbabwe’s Sikandar Raza, were crowned the 2024 Zim Afro T10 champions after beating Cape Town Samp Army by five runs in an exhilarating final decided in the last over on Sunday evening.
Former Afghanistan international Mohammad Shahzad was voted Man of the Match after he smashed 44 runs off 25 balls, including six fours and a six, to help his side put a defendable total on the board.
Tigers’ total of 129-5 was beyond the reach of the opponents who managed 124-2 despite a spirited fight by upcoming Zimbabwe cricket star Brian Bennett, who scored 36 from 21, and an unbeaten 62 from experienced English batter Dawid Malan. The Zim Afro T10 Trophy, which carried a prize of US$50 000, was presented to JoBurg Bangla Tigers captain Raza and team owner Yasin Chowdhury by President Mnangagwa, who was the guest of honour at the tournament’s closing ceremony.
JoBurg Bangla Tigers also won big on the individual accolades after Raza was voted the Zim Cyber City Player of the Tournament for his extraordinary performance with both the bat and ball.
The Zimbabwe all-rounder was rewarded for his form after plundering 231 runs at a strike rate of 238.14. He fin-ished with 23 sixes and 15 fours and also claimed six wickets at an economy of 8.62 in eight innings. Afghanistan cricketer Amir Hamza Hotak, who played for Cape Town Samp Army, was named the Dafabet Bowler of the Tournament while South African batter Rassie Van der Dussen from NYC Lagos was the Batter of the Tournament with a total of 256 runs, including three half-centuries and 21 sixes.
Six teams took part in the tournament this year and these are Durban Wolves, JoBurg Bangla Tigers, Cape Town Samp Army, Harare Bolts, Bulawayo Braves Jaguars, and NYC Lagos.
Online Reporter