BY SPORTSCAST WRITER
HARARE – As largely expected, with the forthcoming World Cup Qualifiers in mind, Zimbabwe has disguised its national team as a ‘Select’ side face touring Pakistan ‘A’ in four-one-dayers starting Wednesday.
Pakistan ‘A’ known as Pakistan Shaheens, are presently touring Zimbabwe and have won two four-day matches against the hosts in Kwekwe and Mutare over the past fortnight.
The Asian second-stringers are now completing the tour in the Zimbabwean capital city at Harare Sports Club.
Zimbabwe’s ‘A’ side for those two longer-version matches had a good number of players still in the fringes of international cricket. But for the one-dayers, the Zimbabwean selectors have gone for broke and named a full strength side in preparation for a tough World Cup qualification in Harare and Bulawayo between 18 June and 9 July.
Meanwhile, ZC has announced that the matches – on 17, 19, 21, 23. 25 and 27 May – will be broadcast globally in a historic television deal.
Read the statement: “In a historic first, Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) will broadcast live to global audiences all the six one-day matches between a Zimbabwe Select side and Pakistan Shaheens.
“Until now, only matches involving Zimbabwe national teams in Test, one-day international and Twenty20 international series or International Cricket Council events had ever been televised.
“After concluding the broadcast deal for the Zimbabwe Select-Pakistan Shaheens series, ZC Managing Director Givemore Makoni said:
“We are pleased to announce that, for the first time since the game of cricket was first played on Zimbabwean soil back in 1892, we will be beaming live on television and other digital platforms action that is not part of a full international series.
“Televising the upcoming one-day series against the Pakistani side will be a massive boost for our game and this would not have been possible without the unwavering support of our commercial and broadcast partners who continue showing confidence in our growing brand.
“In Pakistan, the series will be shown on Ten Sports, ARY and Tapmad and in India the matches will be available on Fancode.
“Those in Zimbabwe can watch the games on ZBC TV, while the rest of the world can catch the action live on ZC’s Facebook channel.
“ZC arranged the one-day series against Pakistan Shaheens to help Zimbabwe fine-tune for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2023 that will be staged across four venues in Harare and Bulawayo from 18 June to 9 July.
“The event will see 10 teams competing for the two remaining places at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 in India later in the year.”
ZIMBABWE SELECT SQUAD
Craig Ervine (captain), Ryan Burl, Tendai Chatara, Brad Evans, Innocent Kaia, Clive Madande, Wessly Madhevere, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Wellington Masakadza, Brandon Mavuta, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava, Milton Shumba, Sean Williams.
