Fixture backlog causes domestic headache

Harare Metropolitan Provincial Cricket Association has a slight headache in completing the PG Timbers Vigne Cup League.

The Vigne Cup, which is the countries largest provincial cricket league, was put on hold midway through the round-robin competition due to the Logan Cup and the Faithwear Cup, the country's two first-class competitions.

Steyn Kombayi, Harare Metropolitan's cricket manager, explained that this had led to a problem. "The province has been left with a backlog which has to be cleared before West Indies A arrives [at the start of July], but most clubs have closed down their grounds for the winter season maintenance, providing a venue headache for the province".

Zimbabwe Cricket has had its busiest domestic season ever, partly due to both first-class competitions being crammed inside eight weeks, as well as the inaugural domestic Metropolitan Bank Twenty20 competition and the World Cup.

All conquering Takashinga, currently second in the league, seem likely favourites to take the title as they have two matches more to play than current leaders Alexandra Sports Club. More problematic for organisers is the Uprising club, who still need to play eight games.

The good news is all the players are available, unlike past Zimbabwe winters which saw many Zimbabwean players heading north to the United Kingdom for lucrative league contracts whilst in the off season, this year they have been barred by the ZC board from doing so - a logical move, otherwise the first-class and one day competitions probably would have been scrapped due to poor playing standards.