Cricketers turn out for Bulawayo charity event

Cricket fans in Bulawayo, who have been starved of watching top-class cricket action for a long time, will get an opportunity to watch their former heroes, including former Zimbabwe captain Heath Streak, in action during the Gray-Nicolls Zimbabwe Twenty20 four-team social cricket tournament at Queens Sports Club on Friday and Saturday. The event will raise funds for old people's homes in Bulawayo.

Gareth Jokes, who represents Gray-Nicolls, said Bulawayo, Harare, Victoria Falls and a team from South Africa have confirmed their participation in what promises to be an exciting tournament.

Besides Streak, the other former Zimbabwe players to feature are Test wicketkeeper Wayne James, the Rennie brothers, John and Gavin, who will turn out for Bulawayo, while former opener Neil Ferreira, who made one Test appearance against New Zealand in 2005, is the only confirmed big name for the Harare team. Also in the Bulawayo team is former Matabeleland fast bowler Matthew Townshend.

Streak, who plays for Ahmedabad Rockets in the unofficial Indian Cricket League, has a soft spot for charity work. In November 2005, the month he retired from international cricket, he mobilised fellow cricketers to auction cricket memorabilia to raise money for World Aids Day. The money they raised was used to purchase a statue which was erected on Lobengula Street, Bulawayo's busiest street.

Streak was supported by Mluleki Nkala, Tawanda Mupariwa, Charles Coventry, Terrence Duffin, Gavin Ewing, Christopher Mpofu, Douglas Hondo, Blessing Mahwire and Tatenda Taibu who donated the shirts which went under the hammer.