Bulawayo to host Twenty20 Cup

Zimbabwe Cricket has confirmed that the domestic Twenty20 tournament has been switched from Harare to Bulawayo. The competition, which takes place between May 13 and 16, will be staged at Queens Sports Club and Bulawayo Athletic Club.

"Bulawayo Metro Province has been very forthcoming in making a stronger case for the competition to be held in Bulawayo and we reached a final decision to that effect last week," a ZC spokesperson told Cricinfo.

Bulawayo Metropolitan Cricket Association chairman Bradley Staddon told the Sunday News that the switch was "a good development for Bulawayo because we have not hosted any cricket for a long time. We want to put together a good event and prove to Harare that we are capable of hosting a big tournament."

The board has been under fire for moving the entire Logan Cup to Harare, and no major cricket has been played outside the capital for more than a year. The two grounds in Bulawayo are reported by local sources to be in good condition.

Defending champions Easterns, along with Centrals and Northerns are expected to start arriving in Bulawayo on May 11, two days after home side Westerns get back after completing their Logan Cup campaign.

There will be two matches each day at the same venue, with the first getting underway at 9.30am.