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Lovemore Zigara Midlands Sports Correspondent
OUTGOING Australian ambassador to Zimbabwe, Matthew Neuhaus, has pledged to give the Mbizo Cricket Grounds a facelift. A pavilion, changing rooms and toilets will be erected at the facility.

The grounds, which are home to Mbizo Cricket Club, have not been able to play host to domestic matches due to the absence of ablution facilities which have forced the club to play its home games at Kwekwe Sports Club or at Queens Kwekwe Sports Club.

Speaking during a tour of the Mbizo Cricket Grounds recently, Neuhaus said there is a lot of potential in Zimbabwe Cricket especially grassroots development hence his embassy had seen it fit to assist in the initiative.

“As the Australian Embassy we’re happy to assist Mbizo Cricket Club because we’ve seen a lot of potential in cricket in Zimbabwe especially if grassroots cricket is supported. We would be happy to assist this project up until its completion and I hope to come back to Zimbabwe to officially commission the facilities when they’re completed,” he said.

Midwest Rhinos area manager, Admire Marodza, whose franchise oversees the Mbizo Cricket Club, was excited about the developments and said it would improve the standard of the sport in the area as more youngsters would show enthusiasm when the facilities are in place.

Marodza could not disclose the total cost of the project as quantity surveyors were still working on the cost.

Construction of the project is expected to start in March and completion is set for September.