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Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter   
BULAWAYO is ready to host the West Indies who arrive in the country on Wednesday for two Tests against Zimbabwe at Queens Sports Club from next week.

Nicholas Singo, the Bulawayo Metropolitan Cricket Association administrator said they are geared up for the West Indies visit. According to him, extra equipment has been brought in from Harare to ensure that the two Tests are not disrupted by rain.

“We are very much prepared for West Indies.  They arrive on Wednesday at midday from South Africa. The board and management will be there to meet the team,’’ he said.

A warm up match has been arranged from 15 to 17 October at BAC against Zimbabwe A. Renovations are being carried out to the BAC team changing rooms. A welcome ceremony is also on the cards for the visiting team with the venue as well as date still being worked on by ZC.

“West Indies will play a warm up at BAC, a three-day match against Zimbabwe A from 15 to 17 October. Facilities are ready, we are bringing more machinery from Harare to make sure our grounds are top notch. Renovations being carried out at the BAC changing rooms just to spruce up the place,’’ Singo said.

Invitations have also been sent out to the schools in and around the city to send their children to watch the action live. Entry is free to children in school uniforms while adults will part with $1 each day of the Test.

National team coach, Heath Streak is expecting a tough two Tests against West Indies after the Calypso Kings stuck to the same team which played three Tests away to England in August.

“It’s the same squad that played England, they beat England in the second Test so we are expecting a tough series against them,’’ Streak said.

Zimbabwe will play a warm up match against Bulawayo Metropolitan Tuskers at BAC which gets underway tomorrow. Most of the national players were in action for their respective provinces in the country’s premier first class competition, the Logan Cup where matches started on Wednesday and ended on Saturday.

A return to international cricket is expected for top order batsman Brendan Taylor and pace bowler Kyle Jarvis who have returned home after spending years on Kolpak contracts in England which prevented them from playing for the country of their birth.

Meanwhile, Tuskers got their 2017/18 Logan Cup campaign off to a flying start with a 144 run victory over the Harare Metropolitan Eagles at Harare Sports Club. In another four-day match, Midlands Rhinos defeated Rising Stars by seven wickets at Kwekwe Sports Club.

West Indies squad: Jason Holder (captain), Kraigg Brathwaite, Devendra Bishoo, Jermaine Blackwood, Roston Chase, Miguel Cummins, Shane Dowrich (wicketkeeper), Shannon Gabriel, Shimron Hetmyer, Kyle Hope, Shai Hope, Alzarri Joseph, Kieran Powell, Raymon Reifer, Kemar Roach

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