In what comes as disappointing news to the cricket fraternity, the opening fixture of the Zim Afro T10 League has been postponed owing to a floodlight installation issue at the Harare Sports Club. The authorities pertaining to the stadium were supposed to get these works done beforehand but the installation was incomplete on the match day. As a result, the opening fixture didn’t go ahead as planned.
The authorities are responsible for installing powerful artificial lighting systems to light up the field of play during night matches or games that are played in low-light conditions. The floodlights used in the venue need to meet certain requirements such that it makes it quite comfortable for the players to see the ball clearly, offering optimal visibility for both players, fans and viewers.
Over the years, the cricket fraternity has witnessed plenty of games being played under the lights, which has well and truly revolutionized the sport. The games played at night usually attract larger crowds, which also paves the way for better opportunities for television viewership as well. Meanwhile, video clips of floodlights being set up just hours ahead of the opening game went viral on social media.
When will the tournament opener kick-off?
The opening game of the Zim Afrio T10 League between Eoin Morgan’s Harare Hurricanes and Sikandar Raza’s Sikandar Raza which was set to kick off on July 20 in Harare at 10:30 PM (IST) will reportedly be played on July 21 (Friday). The installation process is set to be completed before the game such that the tournament goes ahead.
Meanwhile, several Indians also partaking in the league. Former Indian cricketers namelyRobin Uthappa, Irfan Pathan, S Sreesanth, Yusuf Pathan, Stuart Binny and Parthiv Patel will be looking forward to marking their presence for the action-packed T10 tournament. Yusuf Pathan represents Joburg Buffaloes whereas Uthappa, Irfan Pathan and Sreesanth belong to Harare Hurricanes.
Also Read: ZIM AFRO T10 2023 Squad and Teams: Uthappa, Sreesanth, Pathan, Parthiv among 6 Indian players
Parthiv Patel represents Cape Town Samp Army whereas Suresh Raina is part of Bulawayo Braves. As per Zimbabwe Cricket, the tournament opener was postponed owing to an opening ceremony, with an article on their website reads, “In order to allow for a grand opening ceremony, the match between Harare Hurricanes and Bulawayo Braves that was originally scheduled for 1900 hours this Thursday has now been postponed to another day.”