ZIMBABWE Cricket has (ZC) has penned a deal with Lahore Qalandars, that will see eight local players spend four months at the Pakistan franchise’s academy whilst five “genuinely quick” pacers from the Asian country will be distributed across Zimbabwe’s first-class domestic competition.
ZC managing director Givemore Makoni and Lahore Qalandars CEO Asif Rana signed the agreement at a press conference in Harare on Friday.
The eight young Zimbabwean players headed to Pakistan for the four-month developmental programme at the beginning of September are: Tinotenda Maposa, Tawanda Mposa, Tanunurwa Makoni, Marshal Takodza, Brighton Phiri, Lennox Chando, Davis Murwendo, Alex Falao.
The Pakistani fast bowlers will also arrive in Zimbabwe around the same time.
“These guys are genuine fast bowlers that have been bowling at around 140km per hour,” Makoni told reporters.
“We lack that part of the game in terms of express pace. And express pace is usually manufactured and nurtured in Pakistan. If you watched the (World Cup) qualifiers, you noticed that we succumbed to genuine fast bowling. We will leave no stone unturned to correct that.”
Lahore Qalandars are also the owners of Durban Qalandars, who have been playing in the history Zim Afro 10 tournament in the African country, which ends this weekend.-STAFF WRITER
