The struggling Zimbabwean national cricket side is set to be invited to play in South Africa’s domestic competitions this season, a report said on Wednesday.
The proposal has been endorsed by Cricket South Africa (CSA) chief executive Gerald Majola and has the backing of both the International Cricket Council and the African Cricket Association, the Star newspaper reported.
Under the plan which will be debated at a meeting of the CSA executive on Friday, Zimbabwe would join the six existing regional teams in South Africa’s four-day championship, one-day competition and Twenty20 tournament when the season begins later this month.
”It will add a new dimension to South African cricket,” a CSA source told the paper. ”They have talented players and we want to improve them.”
Zimbabwe has been in decline as an international cricket force since a race row in 2005 led to the dismissal of former captain Heath Streak.
The national team has since stopped playing Test cricket against anyone but Bangladesh although they have continued to play ODIs.
However there have been recent signs of a resurgence, with Zimbabwe recording a shock victory last month by beating Australia in a Twenty20 international in Cape Town. – AFP