Faithwear Cup set for the end of March

Zimbabwe's national one-day competition, the Faithwear Cup, will begin on March 22 and will run until March 28. All matches will be staged at Harare Sports Club and the Academy ground.

It will be the first major event featuring the revamped sides. The same format that was used for the B competition will be used with Westerns (formerly Matabeleland), Northerns(formerly Mashonlanad), Centrals (formerly Midlands), Easterns (formerly Manicaland) and Southerns (formerly Masvingo) taking part.

The national players, who are almost certain to return from the Caribbean after the first round, will play in the Twenty20 event set for Mutare Sports Club from March 30 to April 1.

Last year's Faithwear Cup was marred by dire standards among the sides, with onlookers reporting that many players were of no more than poor club quality. Zimbabwe Cricket has been keen to claim that this year's tournament will be of a much higher quality.