Legendary Zimbabwe cricketer Hamilton Masakadza is set to take part in the historic inaugural Zim Cyber City Zim Afro T10 after he was picked in the players draft on Monday.
The Zim Cyber City Zim Afro T10, which will see 75 international cricketers taking part, will commence on July 20 and conclude on July 29 in Harare.
With less than three weeks before the tournament kicks off the squads for the five competing teams namely Harare Hurricanes, Joburg Buffaloes, Durban Qalandars, Bulawayo Braves and Cape Town Samp Army were confirmed following today’s draft.
Some of the best white-ball cricketers are set to descend on Harare and entertain fans with some very keenly contested games. The grand final of the tournament is scheduled for July 29.
The debut edition Zim Cyber City Zim Afro T10 is a landmark tournament as this is the first-time franchise cricket is a part of Zimbabwean cricket and will bring some of the best white-ball cricketers.
It will also roll back the years for local fans with Masakadza, now director of cricket for the local cricket board as well as Mpofu, a top bowler during his time taking part.
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Other former Zimbabwe national team players who have been picked include Timycen Maruma, Cephas Zhuwawu, Tinashe Kamunhukamwe and Regis Chakabva who last featured for Zimbabwe at the T20 World Cup last year.
Most of the current Zimbabwe national team and fringe players will take part in the event.
“This is a historic day for Zimbabwean cricket and we can’t wait to open up the doors for such talented cricketers. Each of the five squads looks extremely strong and I am sure the cricket on display will be of the highest order. And I am delighted that the Zim Cyber City Zim Afro T10 will also give the young cricketers a boost as they will be rubbing shoulders with some of the best players in the world,” Zimbabwe Cricket Managing Director Mr Givemore Makoni said.
Masakadza was picked by Cape Town Samp Army who have 17 players on their roster while Mpofu will feature for Harare Hurricanes along with Chakabva.
Zimbabwe cricket captain Craig Ervine was picked by Durban Qalandars, the in-form Sean Williams by Cape Town Samp Army where he will reunite with former Zimbabwe captain Masakadza and Sikandar Raza will represent Bulawayo Braves.
Top Zimbabwe fast bowlers Blessing Muzarabani and Richard Ngara were picked by the Johannesburg Buffaloes and Cape Town Samp Army respectively.
All the teams will add another player to each of their squads in the coming days as five cricketers will be picked from the nationwide Emerging Player programme, designed to provide the youngsters with a chance to break onto the big stage.
“The Zim Cyber City Zim Afro T10’s Player Draft is a very big day for the T Ten family and Zimbabwean cricket also. We are very happy to see that the squads are all well balanced and quite strong, which means the tournament will be a tight one. We can’t wait for the tournament to begin and then have some of the best cricketers from Zimbabwe and around the world entertain one and all. I would like to wish all the teams the very best as they begin preparing for the cricket festival,” T Ten Global Sports Founder and Chairman Mr Nawab Shaji Ul Mulk said.
Teams
Durban Qalandars
Asif Ali, Mohammed Amir, George Linde, Hazratullah Zazai, Tim Sifert, Sisanda Magala, Hilton Cartwright, Mirza Thahir Baig, Tayab Abbas, Craig Ervine, Tendai Chatara, Brad Evans, Clive Madande, Nick Welch, and Andre Fletcher.
Cape Town Samp Army
Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sean Williams, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Maheesh Theekshana, Sheldon Cottrel, Karim Janat, Chamika Karunaratne, Peter Hazlogou, Matthew Breetzke, Richard Ngarava, Zhuwao Cephas, Hamilton Masakadza, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Tinashe Kamunhukamwe, Parthiv Patel, Mohamed Irfan, and Stuart Binny.
Harare Hurricanes
Eoin Morgan, Mohamed Nabi, Evin Lewis, Robin Uthappa, Donovon Ferraira, Shahzawaz Dahani, Duan Jansen, Samit Patel, Kevin Kothegoda, Christopher Mpofu, Regis Chakabva, Luke Jongwe, Brandon Mavuta, Tashinga Musekiwa, Irfan Pathan, Khalid Shah, and S Sreesanth.
Bulawayo Braves
Sikandar Raza, Taskin Ahmed, Ashton Turner, Tymal Mills, Thisara Perera, Ben McDermott, Beau Webster, Patrick Dooley, Kobe Herft, Rayen Burl, Timycen Maruma, Joylord Gumbie, Innocent Kaia, Faraz Akram and Mujeeb Ur Rehaman.
Johannesburg Buffaloes
Mushfiqur Rahim, Odean Smith, Tom Banton, Yusuf Pathan, Will Smeed, Noor Ahmad, Ravi Bopara, Usman Shinwari, Junior Dala, Blessing Muzarabani, Wellington Masakadza, Wessley Madhevere, Victor Nyauchi, Milton Shumba, Mohamed Hafeez, and Rahul Chopra.