Zimbabwe's inter-provincial one-day tournament, the Faithwear series, began at the Harare Sports Club and Academy grounds on Thursday and runs until next week.

Since the matches will be played at the Harare Sports Club, which is adjacent President Robert Mugabe's heavily-guarded palace, and the tranquil Highlands Country Club, no disturbances are expected during play.

Players based in Harare, however, will have to beat ever-increasing transport costs to make it to the venues, that is if they manage to leave their neighbourhooods in time without encountering police curfews.

The players involved in the tournament fall under the most vulnerable age range in Zimbabwe, and they look up to cricket for a reprieve from daily challenges. Most are not contacted, however, and have no formal employment. Cricket can hardly sustain their livelihood.

In deepening problems in the country, it is easy to get detracted, and organisers will be hoping that the tournament passes event-free.

Zimbabwe has introduced a new format to the tournament where all matches will be played in one city.