Zimbabwe Cricket has launched the National Premier League (NPL) in which nine top clubs will be competing. The NPL is premised at giving cricket players some game time and national coaches the opportunity to identify talent.
Zimbabwe Cricket board chairman Tavengwa Mukuhlani spoke during the official launch of the competition and expressed excitement over the NPL. He said:
I want to congratulate Hamilton Masakadza, the director of cricket for the work that he has done with the team to bring this into fruition.
We would have wanted to do this back in the year but because of the Covid-19 situation, we couldn’t do that but there’s no time lost.
We have had more time to prepare and get ourselves in good standing and allow ourselves to launch this National Premier League today.
I’m calling to all cricket loving people to support this cause and all those that will have an opportunity to play for any club that they will play for to do it with all the energy and grace that is required so that we see a new breed of athletes.
The Sports and Recreation Commission has given ZC the green light to have the club competition take place, with the clearance coming at the same time as the permission for the senior men’s team to tour Pakistan.
The country’s nine top clubs to participate in the inaugural NPL are Amakhosi (formerly Emakhandeni Cricket Club), Queens Sports Club, Midwest, Takashinga, Great Zimbabwe, Kings, Rainbow, Gladiators and Eastern.
The winner of the tournament is expected to pocket US$10 000.
The launch of the tournament comes when Zimbabwe Cricket is reportedly targeting to revive domestic cricket structures, having managed to nearly pay off its legacy debts amounting to US$27 million.
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