The Sunday News
Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE international cricketer Tawanda Mupariwa has relocated to Australia where he has signed a five-year contract with New Town Cricket Club in Hobart, Tasmania.
Mupariwa left the country on 15 September headed for Down Under where he has settled well with the new season starting on 6 October. He described the league that he is going to play in as good competition since Australian national cricketers play in it as well.
“I will be playing in the top competition this side, first grade cricket before state cricket, I have signed for five years, it gives me and my family stability. All national team players from this side play in the league so it’s a good competition,’’ said Mupariwa.
The 31-year-old whose last international appearance was during the One Day International series against India in June has not given up on playing for Zimbabwe in future as he will play as and when required but will be based in Australia.
On the reason for heading off to Australia, the medium pace bowler said going for months without a contract with Zimbabwe Cricket forced him to look for a stable source of income. His provincial deal with Matabeleland Tuskers expired at the end of March. Mupariwa emphasised that it was tough to leave the country but circumstances forced him to relocate.
“It was hard to walk away or make the move, I love my country and would still want to play if the opportunity arises. At the moment this is the best move for me. BT (Brendan Taylor) moved because of the same reason, players want stability. I love my country and I am still available for selection,’’ said Mupariwa.
The player has always been unfairly treated by national selectors from the time he was omitted from the Under-19 team for the junior World Cup staged in Bangladesh even though he was already playing first class cricket. He made his international debut for the senior team that same year. Despite being the fastest to get 50 ODI wickets, a feat he achieved in 2008 in 28 matches, nine fewer than fellow seamer Eddo Brandes, his 40 ODIs have come over a 12-year period.
Mupariwa, who had last played international cricket in 2009, was a surprise inclusion for the 2015 World Cup where he almost won the game for Zimbabwe with the bat against Ireland with 18 runs off 11 balls but could not prevent the Irish from winning the match by five runs. He was again called up to this year’s International Cricket Council World Twenty20 in India as an injury replacement but did not play in any of Zimbabwe’s three matches.
Twitter: @Mdawini_29
