Zim Cricket receive US$1,5m grant

Zimbabwe and West Indies being the first Full Member teams to benefit under the Targeted Assistance and Performance Programme.
The West Indies will get US$3m while Associate Member Netherlands will get US$1,5m.
The money will be released to the associations over a period of three years.
The ICC introduced a Targeted Assistance and Performance Programme (TAPP) fund of US$12m in January this year to help develop more competitive teams at the highest level by targeting the lower ranked Full Members and higher ranked Associate/Affiliate Members for assistance.
The Board had previously received applications and made awards to Cricket Ireland and Cricket Scotland at their June meeting.
The ICC received seven applications overall, of which five awards were made and two boards, including Cricket Canada, were asked to                 re-submit their applications next year.
Ireland and Scotland were the first to receive TAPP assistance in June this year, at the end of the ICC’s annual conference in Kuala Lumpur, with an award of US$500 000 per annum for three years.
Countries that would like to receive funding are asked to go through a bidding process starting with a formal application that could lead up to a possible presentation, before the award is recommended by the ICC’s finance and commercial affairs committee to the Board.
The ICC then works with the Board to develop a three-year MOU to detail the specific activities to be supported by the funding.
Ireland, for example, would use the funding to strengthen its domestic structure and academy programme and engage with other boards to stage more international games at home.
ZC have been battling to balance their books but, to their credit, have kept the game alive in a difficult operating environment.
ZC chairman, Peter Chingoka, conceded last month that they have been sailing in rough waters but remained bullish that his organisation, which continues to receive the backing of the banks and sponsors that fund their operations, will weather the storm.
Meanwhile, Mashonaland Eagles will resume their campaign in the domestic franchise cricket this morning when they play Mid West Rhinos at Kwekwe Sports Club.
The Harare franchise is currently in mourning following the sudden death of their coach Kevin Curran in Mutare during midweek.
Curran, a former Zimbabwe all-rounder and national team coach, collapsed while jogging and died in Mutare.
A church service will be held for the late coach at St. Georges College Cathedral on Tuesday afternoon.
The family will then proceed to a private funeral.  — Sports Reporter/Cricinfo.