ZONE6_PHASED_OUT_29AUG1997

29.8.97

Zone six cricket tourney phased out

Zimbabwe Independent

THE Zone Six Cricket tournament which was won by South Africa last weekend will cease to be Africa's prime crickaet tournament as it is now being replaced by the annual Africa Cup Competition.

According to a media release by the chairman of the Africa Cricket Association (ACA) Neill Armstrong, the Zone Six will continue to play an important role in African Cricket as the future Zone Six Tournaments will now include countries from other regions of the continent.

However, the new format, which comes into effect next year will see the Zone VI tournament as the qualifier of the Africa Cup.

The senior teams of countries in Africa will participate in the Zone Six and the winner of the tournament will join One-day International sides Zimbabwe, South Africa and Kenya in the finals of the Africa Cup.

The qualifiers will be played in Namibia in August next year and the finals before the end of the year at a venue yet to be decided. "These tournaments would be a spur to development of cricket by the administrative organisation in each country. The decisions of the ACA are timely in view of the decision of the International Cricket Council (ICC) to globalise cricket by continental development.

The Zone VI Cricket confederation has played a pivotal role in keeping cricket alive in East, Central and Southern Africa over the last seven years. However, there is need to develop the highly specialised game in other parts of the continent where it is played on a small scale.

To cater for this, a development committee chaired by Ali Bacher of the United Cricket Board of South Africa (UCBSA) has been set up and UCBSA's Hoosein Ayob has been appointed full-time development director for Africa. Four centres of influence, each led by South Africa, Zimbabwe, Kenya and Nigeria, will initiate the development activities.

"Once the momentum of grassroots development in countries in Africa where cricket is currently played, is secured, ACA will through its regional centres of influence promote the start and development of cricket in non-playing countries.

"The executive committee of the ACA intends to bring the decisions of the ACA to the notice of the Supreme Council of Sport in Africa. "This is an attempt to secure the support of every government in Africa for the development of cricket on the continent," said Armstrong.

Source :: Zimbabwe Independent