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THE annual schools cricket festival aimed at promoting grassroots development got off in Harare yesterday with 30 schools from around the country taking part.

The festival is scheduled to end tomorrow.

The matches are being played at eight different venues in Harare — Prince Edward, Allan Wilson, St John’s, St George’s, Eaglesvale, Churchill, Gateway and Westridge.

They have been placed in groups of five to six teams with each side expected to play at least three matches at the end of the festival.

Prince Edward headmaster Kevin Atkinson who is the chairman of the committee yesterday said the initiative has facilitated a platform for development cricket selectors to identify talent.

"The concept is not about competition but is a platform where the cricketers will share ideas and discuss the game.

"It gives these young players exposure of playing with new opponents and more importantly national selectors will be watching as teams play," he said.

Zimbabwe Cricket development and Training manager Titus Zvomuya described the programme as "the highest level of schools cricket."

He also concurred with Atkinson in that: "It gives exposure to most cricket playing schools in the country.

"This schools-driven project is mainly for development," Zvomuya said.

Schools cricket has been credited with producing top class players.

But ZC adopted a new system of franchise cricket last year which juniors team manager Nicholas Singo indicated last month would be the only way to select national players in the future.

Countries like South Africa, whose junior teams have done well on the international stage, depend largely on schools cricket for the selection of youth national teams.

But schools cricket in the country has not been as competitive as in countries like South Africa.