Zim cricketers for Afghanistan
ZIMBABWE Cricket has granted No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to nine players who are set to play in the Shpageeza Cricket League in Afghanistan.
Hamilton Masakadza, Solomon Mire, Sikandar Raza, Vusi Sibanda, Elton Chigumbura, Richard Ngarava, Ryan Burl, Richmond Mutumbami and Sean Williams are expected to leave the country this week.
The T20 competition, slated for September 11-22 in Kabul, will also feature Afghanistan and Bangladesh players after Pakistan players were denied NOCs by the Pakistan Cricket Board.
This resulted in more Zimbabweans getting call ups after only Masakadza, Williams, Mire and Raza had been drafted in May.
“We have granted permission, in the form of No Objection Certificates (NOCs), to nine of our players who have received offers to play in Afghanistan’s premier T20 tournament,” said Zimbabwe Cricket Media and Communications Manager Darlington Majonga.
“We believe they will benefit immensely from participating in such a strong competition.
“We are aware of the security concerns in Afghanistan, but we believe a security plan is in place for the event,” he said.
Security concerns had been raised following the bombing that killed over 70 people and injured over hundred in Kabul in May.
Zimbabwe has clarified that the nine players are going on individual basis.
“It is important to note these players will not be representing Zimbabwe Cricket or Zimbabwe, which means the decision to go or not is down to them as individuals,” Majonga.
The Afghanistan T20 has coincided with the Africa Cup T20 tourney where Zimbabwe will be active from September 15- 17 in East London, South Africa.
This could result in changes in the Domestic T20 tournament which was scheduled to mark the start of the 2017/18 season in Bulawayo from September 15-23.
“It’s a pity the dates for both the Afghan and Africa competitions were shifted and we are now reconsidering the dates originally earmarked for our own T20 competition.
“We wouldn’t want to have the tournament without a good number of our too players. So we are weighing our options in light of the possible clashes,” commented Majonga.