National Premier League For Cricket Zim

Zimbabwe Cricket director of cricket, Hamilton Masakadza, believes the launch of the new National Premier League will be the game-changer in their quest to turn the national team into a competitive outfit.The NPL, which is set to get underway this Sunday with nine teams drawn from across the country, was widely welcomed as an important platform that brings together the experienced and upcoming players.Masakadza told the media he was excited with the return of the cricket league since the platform is credited with producing fine players of his generation like Heath Streak, Tatenda Taibu and Tino Mawoyo, who is now the ZC marketing officer.“I am really excited because our club cricket league is a platform where we get an opportunity for the young, and upcoming cricketers, to mix with all the experienced guys,’’ he said.The competition, which is wholly sponsored by Zimbabwe Cricket, is one of the projects Masakadza and his office team have been working on since his appointment last year.The league programme will run until November and the top team, at the end of the marathon, wins the NPL title and US$10 000 prize money.The games will be spread across the country with Harare Sports Club, Kwekwe Sports Club, Masvingo Sports Club, Queens Sports Club, Mutare Sports Club, Takashinga and Old Hararians all hosting the matches.The previous national league was stopped, two years, ago due to financial constraints. ZC chairman, Tavengwa Mukuhlani, said the organisation has decided to go back to the basics of the game after clearing the crippling legacy debts which amounted to US$27 million five years ago.-TheHerald –