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Stanley Staddon

Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
AFGHANISTAN arrive in Bulawayo this morning for a three-week tour during which they will play a limited overs’ series against Zimbabwe at Queens Sports Club. The Asians will play five one-day games and two Twenty20 matches from October 16-27.

Matabeleland Tuskers Cricket Franchise chief executive officer Stanley Staddon said Afghanistan arrived in Harare on Monday evening and will arrive in Bulawayo this morning.

They will play a number of warm-up games before taking on the wounded Chevrons, who lost the one-day international and T20 series to Pakistan in Harare.

“As it is, we are busy rounding up work at BAC (Bulawayo Athletic Club) where a Zimbabwe select team will take on Afghanistan in three warm-up games,” said Staddon.

“The first warm-up game is on Thursday with the second on Saturday and the last on Monday. We are appealing to cricket lovers in Bulawayo and surrounding areas to come in their numbers and rally behind the boys. It is through supporting such games that we can lobby for more international games to come to Bulawayo,” he said.

Afghanistan were last in the country in July 2014 and will play the five one-dayers at Queens Sports Club on October 16, 18, 20, 22 and 24.

There will be a two-day break before the two teams engage in the first Twenty20 game on October 27 before the visitors wrap up their tour of Bulawayo and the country on October 29 with the last T20.

Soon after Afghanistan’s departure, Bangladesh will arrive in the city for a three-week tour on October 31 involving three ODIs and two four-dayers.

Bangladesh will play the first ODI on November 3, the second on November 5 and the last on November 7.

After the ODIs, Zimbabwe and Bangladesh will clash in two four-day games set for November 10-13 and November 17-20.

Zimbabwe Cricket grounds curator Fungai Shanganya said the wickets at Queens Sports Club are ready for the international matches.

“All our grounds are ready for the games and we’re looking forward to hosting the games here in Bulawayo,” said Shanganya.