The Sunday News
Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
BULAWAYO venues to be used for next month’s International Cricket Council World Cup Qualifier are taking shape with renovations to be complete soon.
Nicholas Singo, the Bulawayo Local Organising Committee (Loc chairman said the two venues, Queens Sports Club and Bulawayo Athletic Club are getting attention so as to be ready the tournament.
Buildings at Queens are also being painted while at BAC, a grass embankment was planted and scoreboard refurbished.
“At Queens we have already started painting, we expect that the terraces will be ready soon. At BAC we planted a grass embankment which needs a wall to support it,’’ Singo said.
In terms of the fans sitting areas, at Queens, a local company, Pump and Steel have sponsored renovations to the stand close to the scoreboard while they will get paid for work on what used to be the Supersonic Stand.
At BAC, fans will occupy the grass embankment while mobile stands will be secured from schools.
“At Queens, Pump and Steel have sponsored renovations of one of the stands, they are fixing the sitting area and shed.
When it comes to BAC we have to put a wall by the grass embankment, we are looking at getting mobile stands from schools for 1000 people,’’ Singo said.
The Singo chaired Loc, made up of experts in various fields has been meeting on a weekly basis to ensure that Bulawayo delivers a perfect tournament for matches to be played in the city.
Bulawayo will be hosting group B fixtures with the countries involved being Zimbabwe, Afghanistan, Scotland, Hong Kong and Nepal.
The biggest match of the Qualifier in the city is the clash between Zimbabwe and Afghanistan at Queens Sports Club on 6 March.
Group A is made up of West Indies, Ireland, Netherlands, Papua New Guinea as well as United Arab Emirates.
Fixtures for this pool are scheduled for Harare Sports Club and Old Hararians.
Kwekwe Sports Club will be used for the playoff matches.
Groups
Group A
West Indies (A1) Ireland (A2), Netherlands (A3), Papua New Guinea (A4), United Arab Emirates (A5)
Group B
Afghanistan (B1), Zimbabwe (B2), Scotland (B3), Hong Kong (B4), Nepal (B5)
Afghanistan v West Indies (HSC), Hong Kong v Netherlands, Old Hararians (OH), UAE v Nepal (Kwekwe Sports Club), Zimbabwe v Ireland (QSC), Scotland v PNG((BAC)
Thursday, 1 March
UAE v WEST Indies(HSC), Afghanistan v Netherlands(OH), Hong Kong v Nepal(Kwekwe Sports Club), Scotland v Ireland (QSC), Zimbabwe v PNG (BAC)
Tournament Proper (first round)
Sunday, 4 March
PNG v UAE ( HSC), Ireland v Netherlands ( OH) Zimbabwe v Nepal (QSC), Afghanistan v Scotland (BAC)
Tuesday, 6 March
PNG v Ireland, (HSC) West Indies v UAE (OH) Zimbabwe v Afghanistan, (QSC) Scotland v Hong Kong (BAC)
Thursday, 8 March
Netherlands v UAE (HSC) West Indies v PNG (OH) Scotland v Nepal (QSC) Afghanistan v Hong Kong (BAC)
Saturday, 10 March
West Indies v Ireland ( HSC) PNG v Netherlands ( OH), Zimbabwe v Hong Kong, (QSC), Afghanistan v Nepal (BAC)
Monday, 12 March
West Indies v Netherlands (HSC), Ireland v UAE, OH; Hong Kong v Nepal ( QSC) Zimbabwe v Scotland (BAC)
Super Sixes
Thursday, 15 March
A1 v B1 (HSC) A3 v B3 (QSC) A5 v B4 (play-off), (OH) A4 v B5 (play-off), (Kwekwe Sports Club)
Friday, 16 March
A2 v B2 (HSC)
Saturday, 17 March
9th/10th position play-off (OH), 7th/8th position play-off (Kwekwe Sports Club)
Sunday, 18 March
A2 v B3 (HSC)
Monday, 19 March
A1 v B2 (HSC)
Tuesday, 20 March
A3 v B1 (HSC)
Thursday, 22 March
A1 v B3 (HSC) A3 v B2 (OH)
Friday, 23 March
A2 v B1 (HSC)
Sunday, 25 March
FINAL (HSC)
@Mdawini_29
