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Tinashe Kusema
Deputy Sports Editor
AMID all the glitz and glamour that characterised its opening ceremony, including the allure of Bollywood actress and model Elnaaz Norouzi and some celebrated cricket players, there is more to the significance of the inaugural Zim Afro T10 cricket tournament.
The competition, which began with day-night games on Thursday, has also generated huge interest among cricket enthusiasts and neutrals, what with its high-profile outlook! It is not every day that local cricket fans get to be up-close with the likes of Eoin Morgan, Sikandar Raza and Mohammed Hafeez. The tournament itself is a brainchild of Indian billionaire Nawab Shaji Ul Mulk, who describes the sport as both a passion and a weakness.
“I played cricket while I was in India, captained my university and also played a little for my state at the Under-19 level,” said Mulk.
“When I went to the United Arab Emirates, I also played for the national side and had stints in administrative roles.
“I am a member of one of the Emirates’ cricket boards. We run the UE cricket, and I have also invested in grounds and club teams.
“Cricket has been a passion but more of a weakness, you could say.”
Mulk is no stranger to following his passions on a whim; after all, this is the man who gave up admission at the prestigious Wharton Business School in the United States in 1982 to follow his dream to become an entrepreneur.
Mulk now has a dream to see a T10 World Cup or, at least, a slot at the Olympics. “A T10 World Cup and Olympics, now, that is the endgame.
“Twenty20 cricket is excellent but this format is everything one wants when it comes to time.
“We have seen that there is a whole generation that wants to see cricket played in a shorter span and what we want is to see this sport on the same level as football and a few other ball games . . . 90 minutes.
“So far, we have been very successful. Today, T10 cricket is played in over 20 countries around the world and we now want to make it into a global sport,” he said. Zimbabwe stands to be one of the biggest beneficiaries of Mulk’s vision after the competition made its grand entry on Thursday. The country became only the second International Cricket Council (ICC) full member to embrace the format.
Five privately owned franchise teams — Harare Hurricanes, Joburg Buffaloes, Durban Qalanders, Bulawayo Braves and Cape Town Samp Army — are taking part in the event, which runs until July 29 at Harare Sports Club.
The stars have come in their numbers — including Mohammad Nabi, Taskin Ahmed, Yusuf Pathan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Andre Fletcher, Morgan and Hafeez. They are all eager to share the dressing room and lend their wealth of experience to some of the local players. Hafeez has already taken a liking to Zimbabwe’s Wesley Madhevere; while Morgan, who has been with the format from day one, says imparting his vast knowledge of the T10 format is something he always looks forward to.
“It’s actually my first time in Zimbabwe and another edition of the T10 league, which I am very excited about,” said the former England captain. “I have been involved since the inaugural edition back in 2017 and I am looking forward to the next 10 days of festival-style cricket.
“I am at a stage in my life where I have retired from international cricket — all forms — and do enjoy travelling the world playing T10 cricket and passing on some of my vast experience to the younger guys around the world.
“Playing with and against young, new and vibrant Zimbabwean cricketers is sure to be a highlight for me,” he said.
His sentiments were echoed by Rahim and Fletcher. Mulk has also taken steps to invest in both emerging players and the school system. Through his partnership with the Pakistan franchise Lahore Qalanders, five young players have been identified through an Emerging Players Programme and have been slotted into the five franchises currently taking part.
Ten more promising players will be selected from an annual programme aimed at identifying and nurturing talent. Of the 10, five will be handed scholarships, with Mulk and Qalanders aiding their progression in the game.
“We want the T10 cricket brand to be part of the schools’ system so that the young kids can play and put them into the same pathway that can create international stars.
“We will continue to groom them and get them into the talent hunt, and then make them internationals.
“We want to do this the whole year round, invest in the schools’ cricket league and then do the big finale when the Zim Afro T10 comes.
“We have established a scholarship for them that will go towards school fees, with the figure roughly US$1 000 each.
“When they are ready, regardless of age, we will put them in the international squads,” Mulk said.
Online Reporter