Mathew shonken

[Donald]

Took 5 wickets in a under 19 match against zimbabwe legends recently

Prize wickets include guy whittall and craig evans for shonken.

Kid looks decent

[secretzimbo]

He's more than decent mate. He bowls leg spin like a 30 year old. Can hold a bat too.

Also captaining the next U19's I think.

[Donald]

Good to hear!!!

[Googly]

I wonder what his plans are after school? One would assume Uni somewhere where he drops off the radar for 3 years. No idea what other potential citizenships he may be eligible for, if any. If he can afford to go to a UK Uni he misses our season, but would be available for winter club cricket here.
It's the same old story where an immediate pathway is not necessarily open to franchise and a good young player may get impatient.
He's the real deal. He was in the last u19 as a 15/16 year old, but didn't play all the games I don't think, but even at that young age he was composed, got turn, had a googly, and hit his lines and lengths astonishingly well for such a young guy.
If ZC continue with their approach of- he needs to prove to us that he's committed and prepared to play for $300 a month for 4 months of the year whilst we hope a better local lad appears who's prepared to play for even less then I'm sure he'll try and exercise other options.

[ZIMDOGGY]

Why is it always
1. Go to England uni
2. At a course that demands you be present and not remote.

It’s getting boring. Show creativity! Change it up.

It’s also incredibly easy to study remotely or semi remotely. All other athletes do it. Why can’t zimbos?

[secretzimbo]

On the theme of u19s;

Zimbabwe will be hosting the 2026 men’s U19 World Cup

[zimfan1]

I see that we will automatically qualify for the 2027 Men's World Cup as hosts.

Is this the time that it has been confirmed?

Massive pay day for ZC.

[secretzimbo]

I see that we will automatically qualify for the 2027 Men's World Cup as hosts.

Is this the time that it has been confirmed?

Massive pay day for ZC.

Yeah first time it’s confirmed. Sadly Namibia are NOT qualifying Automatically. I’m guessing they will only host one or two token matches whilst we are hosting quite a few more.

[Googly]

People want to leave just to get out and about, we're a small landlocked country and if you can you need to go and experience what's out there.

How do we keep pulling off hosting these tournaments??

[secretzimbo]

Why is it always
1. Go to England uni
2. At a course that demands you be present and not remote.

It’s getting boring. Show creativity! Change it up.

It’s also incredibly easy to study remotely or semi remotely. All other athletes do it. Why can’t zimbos?

Or....just wait a couple of years?

If it was me I'd give cricket a go for a couple of seasons. You never know, you could find yourself playing a Test match or a world cup if you do particularly well. If not, and if cricket doesn't work out, then you can still go and start uni at like aged 22 or 23 or something - you aren't exactly ancient at that point. It's pretty normal for Brits to take a year or two out and go to uni later anyway.

For example Myers who was in the national team already, why wouldn't he jut give cricket a chance for a while? They offered him a national team contract and he turned it down to go and study Agriculture at some minor UK university with no cricketing setup. Bizarre.