The ManicaPost
Ray Bande Senior Sports Reporter—
THE second round of the Logan Cup cricket tournament ought to have continued this week, but suffered a major setback since the opening day as rains kept pounding on the eastern border city.
By Wednesday, a decision by the umpires to call off the match was expected to be made on Thursday (yesterday) morning.
“We could not play the match owing to the weather. There is no way we could have proceeded given the rains that were received in Mutare the whole week. A decision by the umpires whether to call off the match is expected to be made on Thursday (yesterday) morning around 9.30am,” said Mountaineers coach Shepherd Makunura.
Just like Mountaineers and Tuskers’ players who failed to go out to the playing field in Mutare due to the incessant rains being experienced across the country, officials had to call off the action in the match between Eagles and Rhinos at Harare Sports Club this week.
Zimbabwe has been experiencing continuous rains in the past month and the clubs will now be hoping that the weather relents to allow play to resume.
According to media reports, the tournament, which began last month, has met with some challenges after it was postponed twice following a boycott by the players who were demanding the payment of their salaries in full.
The matter was resolved last week, paving the way for the games to begin.
The games, however, suffered a blow from nature this week.
Harare Metropolitan Eagles were set to host Midlands Rhinos at Harare Sports Club, while Manicaland Mountaineers were billed to entertain Bulawayo Metropolitan Tuskers at Mutare Sports Club in fixtures that were scheduled for Tuesday to Friday (today).
All the teams were raring to go after an unfortunate misunderstanding over provincial salaries had resulted in the disruption of the first-round match between Tuskers and Rhinos at Queens Sports Club in December.
Some players on provincial contracts were reportedly not happy when their December salaries were delayed because the provinces they represent had not submitted their paperwork in time for the Zimbabwe Cricket secretariat to include them on the December payroll together with the other players on central contracts and non-playing staff.
All salaries are now up to date.
Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe Premier League (ZPL) continues with four fixtures scheduled for this Saturday.
In the capital city, Muzvezve Tigers will face Rainbow at Old Hararians, while Southern Lions and Takashinga Patriots 2 will meet at Takashinga Sports Club.
Elsewhere, Inkatha and Eastern Lions will tussle it out at Masvingo Sports Club, with the match pitting Amakhosi against Takashinga Patriots 1 at Kwekwe Sports Club completing this weekend’s 40-over ZPL fixtures.
