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Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
CRICKET giants Australia and South Africa, who will tour Zimbabwe later this year, are expected to play some of their matches at Bulawayo’s ceremonial home of cricket, Queens Sports Club.Australia is scheduled to tour the country for a One-Day International triangular series that will feature the Proteas in August.

This will be Australia’s first visit in a decade having last played in Zimbabwe in 2004 for three One-Day International matches which they won all.

South Africa last toured Zimbabwe in June last year for an unofficial Twenty20 tri-series also involving Bangladesh. Zimbabwe thrashed South Africa by nine wickets in the final.

In a telephone interview from Harare yesterday, ZC communications manager Lovemore Banda said the matches involving South Africa and Australia would be played in Bulawayo and Harare to afford sport lovers an opportunity to watch the best cricket playing nations in action.

Last year, ZC was forced to restrict Pakistan’s tour of Zimbabwe to Harare due to financial constraints.

“Obviously we are happy that Australia is coming to play in Zimbabwe but let me be quick that it was not that the board didn’t want them to come but their government had instructed them not to do so. Australia is coming in August, a month after South Africa and we have already started planning for the tours so that the matches are played in Harare and Bulawayo.

“Cricket fans from across the country obviously want watch international matches and it is our wish to make sure that we spread the games so that no one is short changed. Once dates are out, we should be announcing which matches will be played in Harare and Bulawayo so that everyone plans for the big games,” said Banda.

Apart from South Africa and Australia, Bangladesh and Pakistan, who have made frequent visits to Zimbabwe, will tour the country in October and December respectively.

Expectations are high that the Aussie and Proteas tours will help ZC’s financial situation to improve as they are likely to get a significant amount from television rights.

Peter Chingoka, the ZC chairman is on record as saying the tri-series tournament featuring Australia and South Africa will bring “financial relief” to the struggling board.

Matabeleland Tuskers Cricket Franchise are responsible for the maintenance of Queens Sports Club and its chief executive officer Stanley Staddon said having international matches starting in Bulawayo will help draw support for the sport.

“In the past Bulawayo cricket crowds used to be better than Harare but that has changed lately. Maybe it’s because people feel that the matches coming here are dead rubbers but we have to move away from that line of thinking. If we manage to have international matches starting at Queens Sports Club, that will help us attract lots of spectators because there will be everything to play for.

“We remain hopeful that ZC will bring some of the Australia and South Africa matches to Bulawayo” said Staddon.
Queens Sports Club is home to the country’s three-consecutive seasons Logan Cup winners and hopes have been high that the Bulawayo cricket enthusiasts will be rewarded for their team’s performance by getting more international matches.