Cricket South Africa (CSA) have announced details under which Zimbabwe will put a representative side in all three professional franchise competitions in South Africa this summer.
Zimbabwe have undertaken to field their strongest team in all matches.
Explaining the rationale behind the decision taken by the boards of the two countries, Brian Basson, general manager, CSA cricket operations, said that all full member countries had been requested by the International Cricket Council (ICC) to assist Zimbabwe in the development of their cricket.
Because of the close geographical proximity, CSA had a special responsibility in this regard.
Because this initiative has been undertaken at short notice, Zimbabwe will only play a single round in the four-day SuperSport Series competition with all their matches being at home. The franchises will take their points forward from these matches, although this will not apply to Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe will, however, play a full double round, home and away, in the MTN Domestic Championship and a full single round (home and away) in the Standard Bank Pro20 series. Should the Zimbabwe side qualify for the knock-out phases, these matches will be played in South Africa,
The initiative will be reviewed after the completion of the season. There will be no changes to the fixtures as originally announced for matches between the South African franchises. – Sapa