FORMER Zimbabwe cricket captain Hamilton Masakadza has kept his passion for the game, inspiring upcoming cricketers as he continues to play in the domestic league for his boyhood club, Takashinga.
The batsman is back in business in the ongoing National Premier League (NPL) playing for the defending champions Takashinga Patriots 1.
A veteran of 38 Test matches for Zimbabwe, 209 One Day Internationals and 66 T20Is, Masakadza is still fit and keen to add to his 140 domestic first class matches, 345 list A and 120 T20s.
He missed part of the early stages of the NPL, but he never sulked, maintaining the same traits that made him a successful cricketer during his playing days.
As he prepares to play in his third match of the season today at Masvingo Sports Club in Masvingo against Queens Cricket Club, Masakadza shared what has kept him going and involved in local cricket long after retiring from international cricket.
"I think the experience helps the younger guys coming through just all across the board with all the teams that are in the NPL," Masakadza told The Sports Hub.
"I think it's very important to get all our experienced heads playing in the NPL; and turning out and sort of helping the youngsters along to just do it right with them alongside them."
In his first game of the season, Masakadza scored a 27-ball 25 runs in Patriots 1's 82-run victory against Rainbow Cricket Club at Alex Sports Club in Harare.
He followed that up with an unbeaten eight runs off nine balls in their mid-week clash against Chitungwiza-based Gladiators Cricket Club at home in Highfield.
Patriots 1 are in second place with a game in hand, 10 points behind log leaders Westside while their sister club Takashinga Patriots 2 occupy third place.
"Happy to be back playing NPL again. I was never really out to be fair. It's just that when we have a full-strength side, we have such a good, strong team that I have to make way for the younger guys, the guys who are still playing professionally," added Masakadza.
"But, now when some of the guys are away on national duty as they are with the Test squad and as they were with the India preparations and some of the guys are being away with the emerging side as well that opens up a few spaces in the side and then I can get a little bit of game time."
Tapiwa Mufudza has been phenomenal with the ball in the NPL season so far. \
The spinner has registered three five-wicket hauls and two two of them in succession; five for 15 runs in six overs against Strikers last weekend and five for 18 in nine overs mid-week versus Gladiators.
"My absence from the initial matches was just simply because everyone was still available.
"We have such a strong side that when everyone is available there's no space for sort of guys like me. But, when the national team is busy and the emerging side as well, those spots open up a little bit," he said.
"Queens have been playing nicely so I think how we will defeat them is to go out and play our natural game. Apply a little bit of confidence and bank on the senior players like Timycen Maruma and Mufudza to take the team through."
Queens Cricket Club are in eighth place with 40 points, 20 behind Takashinga Patriots 1.