News DayÂ
By Daniel Nhakaniso
6 March 2013
ZIMBABWE Cricket (ZC) yesterday released the schedule for the upcoming Bangladesh tour of Zimbabwe in April which will see Queens Sports Club hosting international matches for the first time in almost a year.
The multi-purpose cricket stadium in Bulawayo has been allocated two Twenty20s (T20s)and three one-day-internationals (ODIs) from April 13-21, but misses out on the two Test matches which will both be held at Harare Sports Club in the capital.
Last year’s only home assignment, the unofficial triangular series which included South Africa and Bangladesh saw all matches being hosted in the capital, a development that drew the ire of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture minister David Coltart.
Coltart bemoaned the lack of use of the venue for international matches by ZC.
“It’s been over a year now since we have had international cricket at this venue and it’s a shame. I have issued a directive to Zimbabwe Cricket to ensure that all international matches that will be played be spread nationwide.†Coltart said at the ZC franchise Matabeleland Tuskers/Lobels Partnership launch last December.
It was the second time Coltart had made that call after he wrote a letter to the Sport and Recreation Commission in June last year directing the sports body to have international games in all sporting disciplines spread throughout the country where there were suitable venues.
The return of international cricket at Queens should be a welcome development for cricket fans in Bulawayo.
ZC seems to have heeded that call as yesterday they released the schedule for the upcoming tour by Bangladesh.
“The city of Bulawayo will host the Twenty20 and one-day-international games that Zimbabwe will play against Bangladesh in April this year,†Shingai Rhuhwaya, ZC general manager, media and public affairs officer, said in a statement.
“Bangladesh arrive in Zimbabwe on the 9th of April for a series in which they will play two T20s, three ODIs and two Test matches against the Zimbabwean national cricket team.
“The two Tests will be played at Harare Sports Club while Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo will play host for the two shorter versions of the game,†she said.
The national team is currently in the West Indies where they have already been whitewashed in the ODI nd T20 series, heading into two Tests next week where another hiding is looming.
The first Test is at the Kensington Oval in Barbados starting next Tuesday before the second at Windsor Park in Dominica, starting March 20.