The Sunday News
By Mehluli Sibanda
9 March 2013
LONG-SUFFERING Bulawayo cricket fans will have something to smile about when the city hosts two Twenty20 Internationals and three One-Day International matches pitting the hosts and Bangladesh at Queens Sports Club next month.
Bulawayo cricket lovers have over the past few years been overlooked when it came to international cricket with Harare hosting the bulk of the matches. Zimbabwe Cricket seem to have taken heed of a directive issued last year by the Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture, David Coltart to spread international matches between the two venues, Harare Sports Club and Queens Sports Club.
Last year the minister ordered all national sporting associations through the Sports and Recreation Commission to spread international sporting events to other parts of the country.
Bulawayo fans last witnessed international cricket action way back in November 2011 when Zimbabwe took on New Zealand in a one-off Test match, an exciting affair in which Zimbabwe came close to causing an upset before they suffered a heart-breaking 34-run defeat to the Kiwis.
Prior to the five-day match, Zimbabwe had beaten New Zealand in the third and final ODI at Queens with Malcolm Waller leading the hosts to a one-wicket triumph.
Zimbabwe, however, did not have a great time when they last squared off against the Bangladesh Tigers as they lost the last two ODIs, having already clinched the series in Harare.
In 2009, Zimbabwe, then under local coach Walter Chawaguta, were routed 4-1 by the Tigers in a five-match series, including losing a match in which hard-hitting Bulawayo boy Charles Coventry made an unbeaten 194 runs which equalled what was then the highest individual score by a batsman in an ODI. Pakistan batsman Saeed Anwar had set the record.
What even makes the coming of cricket to Bulawayo more exciting is the fact that it will be the first time ever that Queens Sports Club hosts international Twenty20 cricket with all previous matches in the shortest format of the game played in Harare at Harare Sports Club.
Vumindaba Moyo, the chairman of the Bulawayo Big Match Committee responsible for administration, welcomed the move to bring international cricket to Bulawayo. He said fans coming to watch the five matches, especially the Twenty20s, should expect an amazing event with lots of entertainment on and off the field.
“It is a good development to have international cricket in Bulawayo; the cricket loving fans in Bulawayo have always been starved of international cricket. We promise to make the Twenty20s a festive event, something that people will remember. people are hungry for international cricket and this is their chance. Everything on the administration side is going to be well-organised. I cannot speak for the team, I hope they do well,’’ said Moyo.
He revealed that they were impressed with the attendance for the 50-over final between Matabeleland Tuskers and Mashonaland Eagles and they were going to employ the same marketing strategy to get as many fans to come and watch the national team in action.
According to Moyo, his committee had recommended that the rest of the ground tickets go for $3 with the grandstand pegged at $5 to make sure that the stadium is packed.
Lanky fast bowler Christopher Mpofu, a popular figure with Bulawayo cricket supporters, is expected to feature prominently in both the Twenty20s and ODIs while Coventry could get a recall particularly for the Twenty20 matches. Craig Ervine, who turns out for Tuskers on the domestic front, is another player the local fans will be able to identify with.
Bangladesh land in Zimbabwe on 9 April with the first Twenty20 International set for Saturday, 13 April and the last match on the following day.
The ODIs are set for 17, 19 and 21 April with the two teams moving to Harare after that to slug it out in the two Test matches.
Having gone for more than a year without watching any international cricket action, cricket fans in Bulawayo must be salivating at the prospect of watching the national team in action and hopefully Brendan Taylor and the rest of the troops will not disappoint.
One thing for sure is that Bulawayo is going to be the centre of attraction for five days next month and it is up to the fans to make those five days count for they never know when next the city will get such an opportunity.
Zimbabwe v Bangladesh dates:
Sat, 13 April
13.30 local
1st T20I — Zimbabwe v Bangladesh
Queens Sports Club,
Sun, 14 April
13.30 local
2nd T20I — Zimbabwe v Bangladesh
Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo
Wed, 17 April
09.30 local
1st ODI — Zimbabwe v Bangladesh
Queens Sports Club,
Fri, 19 April
09.30 local
2nd ODI — Zimbabwe v Bangladesh
Queens Sports Club,
Sun, 21 April
09.30 local
3rd ODI — Zimbabwe v Bangladesh
Queens Sports Club,
Tue, 30 April — Sat, 4 May
10.00 local
1st Test — Zimbabwe v Bangladesh
Harare Sports Club
Wed, 8 May-Sun, 12 May
10.00 local
2nd Test — Zimbabwe v Bangladesh
Harare Sports Club.