Zim women's heartbreak
“EVERYTHING is just fine here. I am not under any pressure at all. I'm just hoping and praying that I play and impress the coach and I think I will just do that. I am happy and the environment at Simba is just good. It's going to be a tough match against
ZIMBABWE Cricket (ZC) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have mutually agreed to end Pakistan Women’s national cricket team’s ongoing tour to Harare due to the latest travel policies of the visiting side’s carrier, Emirates Airlines.
Pakistan won the opening 50-over match on February 9 and were due to play the second one-dayer on Friday, with the final match of the tour set for February 20.
The tourists were originally scheduled to depart on February 21. However, following Emirates Airlines’ announcement that it had suspended its flight operations on the Harare-Dubai route from February 13 to 28, both boards have decided to end the tour after the first match with Pakistan Women now scheduled to leave Harare today.
The development is a massive blow for Zimbabwe Women who were looking forward to the rest of the series after they went down to Pakistan Women by 178 runs in the first one-day match played at Harare Sports Club on Tuesday, which was the home side’s first international game in almost two years.
“It is unfortunate that the Pakistan Women’s team have had to cut short their stay in Zimbabwe as a precautionary move after some unforeseen air travel complications arose, but their concern is understandable,”ZC Managing Director Givemore Makoni said.
“Nonetheless, we would like to thank the PCB for having in the first place committed to the historic tour which we have no doubt would have been memorable and a massive boost for our women’s game had it not been discontinued.
“We hope to host them again in the near future.”
PCB Chief Executive Wasim Khan said: “It has been a difficult decision considering Zimbabwe Cricket had put in place excellent arrangements for the series.
“But the decision by Emirates Airlines to suspend all flights to and from Harare from 13 February to 28 February has meant that we have to bring the squad back in the next 24 hours. “We thank Zimbabwe Cricket for their understanding and support, and hope to return at some stage to complete this additional tour.”
Both Zimbabwe and Pakistan were using the now abandoned tour as part of their preparations for the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier 2021, a 10-team tournament that will be held in June and July. The top three teams from that qualifying event will progress to the 50-over ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022 in New Zealand. —
WARRIORS defender Peter Muduwa (pictured) is confident of impressing Simba SC as he ventures into his first Caf Champions League journey with his side facing DRC' AS Vita at the Stade des Martyrs in Kinshasa tomorrow.
Simba SC were drawn in Group A with AS Vita, Egyptian giants Al Ahly and Al-Merreikh of Sudan.
The Highlanders defender joined Simba SC last month on a six-month loan from the Bulawayo giants and targets to impress his Tanzanian paymasters to land a permanent transfer. Speaking to NewsDay Sport soon after arriving in the DRC on Wednesday, Muduhwa said he is ready for the adventure that could see him being signed permanently at Simba SC.
“Everything was just fine here. I am not under any pressure at all. I'm just hoping and praying that I play and impress the coach (Didier Gomez Da Rosa) and I think I will just do that. I am happy and the environment at Simba is just good. It's going to be a tough match against AS Vita but we must win,” Muduhwa said. He is among eight other defenders Shomari Kapombe, Joash Onyango, Pascal Wawa, Ibrahim Ame, Erasto Nyoni, Kennedy Juma, Gadiel Michael and Mohamed Hussein who are up for selection. The French tactician Da Rosa travelled with a 27-member squad saying he doesn't want to face surprises under the COVID-19 circumstances.
Muduhwa is only eligible for the Caf Champions League as he was signed after the Tanzania Football Federation transfer window had closed for him to feature in the Vodacom Premier League.
His compatriot Perfect Chikwende who also signed for Simba SC last month from FC Platinum will not be playing in the champions league as per the competition rules as he was registered with the Zimbabwean champions for the same tournament.
Simba SC beat FC Platinum to proceed to the lucrative group stages of the Caf Champions League.