The Sunday Mail
Online Reporter
The long wait is over!
The National Premier League (NPL) makes its official return this weekend, with 10 teams expected to battle it out for bragging rights in the elite club cricket tournament.
The 10 teams will see Harare Metropolitan Province being represented by defending champions Takashinga Patriots 1, Gladiators, Harare Kings and Takashinga Patriots.
Bulawayo will be represented by Amakhosi and Bulawayo Athletic Club (BAC).
The other clubs involved in the league are Westside from Manicaland, Great Zimbabwe Patriots from Masvingo and Nortonians, which will incorporate players from the Midlands and Mashonaland West provinces.
An academy side, Lions, comes in as the 10th team.
“We are dedicating a lot of time and resources in a bid to make the NPL the biggest club competition across all sporting disciplines in Zimbabwe,” said Zimbabwe Cricket managing director Givemore Makoni.
“As you would know, one of our most important tasks is the sustainable promotion of our players at the appropriate level, and the NPL is a vital part of this.
“It will help to bridge the all-important gap between amateur club cricket and provincial representative cricket and give our players the perfect platform to prepare for lasting careers in the sport.”
The action officially gets underway on Sunday, with defending champions Takashinga Patriots 1 facing Nortonians at Sunrise Sports Club.
Old Hararians Sports Club will play host to two matches as BAC takes on Westside while Harare Kings entertain Lions Academy.
Amakhosi will clash with Takashinga Patriots 2 at Kwekwe Sports Club, while Gladiators and Great Zimbabwe Patriots complete matchday one action at Masvingo Sports Club.
