Confusion over Zimbabwe participation in SA events

At the weekend, Zimbabwe cricket appeared to have received a boost with the announcement that it would field a side in the reserve league of South Africa's provincial cricket. Other teams in Pool B include Boland, Eastern Province, Western Province Boland and KwaZulu Natal. There are two competitions - one first-class three-day tournament and another limited-overs one.

The top two sides in each Pool in the one-day competition go into the semi-finals where, as with the first-class contest, the Pool winners play each other in the final.

According to Zimbabwe Cricket, the Zimbabwe A team, consisting of a number of national team players, was due to leave for South Africa on October 18 to take part in the tournament, with the first game taking place two days later.

"We are very delighted that South Africa allowed us to resume playing matches with their provincial sides," said Ozias Bvute, Zimbabwe Cricket's managing director, "and we are confident that this will strengthen our national team."

But when Cricinfo contacted the South African board we were told that "nothing is concrete and nothing has been agreed."