Longer domestic season to start mid October

[CrimsonAvenger]

Surely 4 rounds would be 12 matches?

Even I thought something was amiss in the count of matches... By the way, would you be holding your breath on this one?

[aydee]

Surely 4 rounds would be 12 matches?

Even I thought something was amiss in the count of matches... By the way, would you be holding your breath on this one?

Just assume, as a general rule, that breath isn't ever being held!

[zimfan1]

. Heath Streak has come in as head coach, adding stability after a chaotic few months in which the inexperienced Makhaya Ntini was thrown in at the deep end, probably unfairly. More significantly, having now had several months to get his teeth into his new administrative roles, Tatenda Taibu feels that the wheels are starting to turn. Breaking away from an umpire's meeting delivered by former Zimbabwe international and ICC match referee Andy Pycroft on Thursday morning, Taibu confirmed that the domestic season is due to start on November 22 and should run through to August. Significantly, as many as 40 contracts are expected to be offered, ranging from one to three years. This is a major improvement on the paltry six-month contracts that domestic cricketers have previously been offered for a pitifully short first-class season.

[zimfan1]

. Zimbabwe Cricket development manager Givemore Makoni says domestic cricket should be played all year round because the country has the ‘best’ weather for cricket.

Makoni spoke to Sports Zone immediately after the release of the Domestic season dates and emphasized the importance of giving players more game time.

The 2016/17 season will run for nine months.

“Action starts with the Zimbabwe Premier league on November 13 and then the Logan Cup on November 22.

“We will have the 50 over List A competition in winter from May to July.

“We have the best weather for cricket here in Zimbabwe and the game can be played in winter,” said Makoni.

“The idea is to give players more game time so this time the domestic season will be played for nine months.”

The season will run till August next year and has also seen the national under 19 team being drafted in the 50 over competition as part of their next ICC Cricket World Cup preparations.

“We only have a two –year circle to prepare for the Under 19 World Cup and it is important these players get as much match practice as possible.

“Their matches are however, not classified as List A matches, but they are there to give the young players practice,” said Makoni.

“This time we have 12 weeks of the Logan Cup, 12 of the List A games, 18 weeks of the ZPL and two-Twenty 20 competitions,” Makoni said.

Mashonaland Eagles, the holders of all the three domestic competitions trophies will begin their Logan Cup defence with a home fixture against Matabeleland Tuskers at Old Hararians on November 22.

On the same day MidWest Rhinos will host the Mountaineers at Kwekwe Sports Club.

[ljriley90]

Hi All,

Just wondering how this news will effect Zimbabweans FC players who are looking to get to the UK for 2017?

If the season runs until August then these guys looking to get over to the UK aren't going to be available.

Our season begins back end of April, so I guess this puts a stop on any plans for a Zimbabwean overseas with this season restructure?

The FC franchises wont release their players to play in UK will they?

Any advice will be very welcome.

[zimfan1]

From what i understand all the 4 day stuff is going to be played before April, after then it is just the OD stuff which is a game a week. I imagine players will still be encouraged to go to the UK and skip some of the OD stuff.

But then again who knows with ZC, a 9 month season sounds very optimistic to be honest.

[Jemisi]

Can't believe we will see 12 FC games or as many of all the other promises come to pass but would love to see it.

[aydee]

. Zimbabwe Cricket development manager Givemore Makoni says domestic cricket should be played all year round because the country has the ‘best’ weather for cricket.

Makoni spoke to Sports Zone immediately after the release of the Domestic season dates and emphasized the importance of giving players more game time.

The 2016/17 season will run for nine months.

“Action starts with the Zimbabwe Premier league on November 13 and then the Logan Cup on November 22.

“We will have the 50 over List A competition in winter from May to July.

“We have the best weather for cricket here in Zimbabwe and the game can be played in winter,” said Makoni.

“The idea is to give players more game time so this time the domestic season will be played for nine months.”

The season will run till August next year and has also seen the national under 19 team being drafted in the 50 over competition as part of their next ICC Cricket World Cup preparations.

“We only have a two –year circle to prepare for the Under 19 World Cup and it is important these players get as much match practice as possible.

“Their matches are however, not classified as List A matches, but they are there to give the young players practice,” said Makoni.

“This time we have 12 weeks of the Logan Cup, 12 of the List A games, 18 weeks of the ZPL and two-Twenty 20 competitions,” Makoni said.

Mashonaland Eagles, the holders of all the three domestic competitions trophies will begin their Logan Cup defence with a home fixture against Matabeleland Tuskers at Old Hararians on November 22.

On the same day MidWest Rhinos will host the Mountaineers at Kwekwe Sports Club.

I quite like the u19 idea, but why not make their games list A? West Indies have done this in the past.

Are all these fixtures actually available to view anywhere?

[eugene]

Fixtures available? Are you new here?

Should have an Under-19s team in the Logan Cup, or perhaps Under-21. Bolster the side with two overage players to help provide leadership, perhaps something for Vusi Sibanda to do?

[Googly]

Why the delay in starting? There is no way they will keep it going for that long, who are they trying to kid? By the time these boys get to u19 it's too late to make a really good cricketer, the work needs to be done before, listening to the same old nonsense is so frustrating.
ZC need to talk to the Ministry and the schools and change the seasons so schoolboys have more cricket, it's one of the main reasons we can't find good kids, they play 10 games a year against crap opposition, then they're supposed to feature at u19 level? If Tendulkar had been born and raised a Zimbabwean he'd have been shit.