2024/25 franchise teams

Well not strictly true. If folks with options believed there was a cricket career ahead of them they'd possibly give it a go straight out of school.

Right there is why we're not strong and we see the same players year in and out basically going nowhere.

Unless you're centrally contracted you're not surviving, so how long do you give it a go for before you throw in the towel?

We have a fairly unique situation because there are no decent jobs around so they have a captive market of players who'll play non stop cricket for months at a time for a pittance, and 95% of the guys know they've got a snowball's chance of making the national side, and even if they do get a shot they have to wait a long time to be offered a contract.

I mean I'd be surprised if Marumani had a contract.

If you've got guys like Shingi and Chamu earning more than guys like Maru and Musekiwa then there's a big problem.

Of the 100 odd "pro" cricketers there can't be more than about 10 that make a living from it, and it's just a living, nobody is saving except for Raza.

The use and abuse of players and the complete disregard for their welfare is astonishing.

We're a week away from the season and there are still no squad lists, no schedule, nothing.

Clearly some players have been shuffled around, for whatever reason, or that's the rumour. There's more clarity in club and NPL cricket than our actual franchise cricket, which shouldn't be close to being called franchise because there's virtually no autonomy and everything is centrally controlled..as usual.

Oh and here's an interesting one- Victor Nyauchi potentially facing a lengthy ban of sorts for cussing Hamilton Masakadza. Hopefully good sense will prevail. Does that mean if Masakadza plays cricket you can't sledge him? 😂

Does that extend to any of his brothers?

You could probably get away with saying something disparaging about a political figure but Hammy is Royal Game?

*EAGLES*

Craig Ervine, Wessly Madhevere, Tanaka Chivanga, Richard Ngarava, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Tinashe Kamunhukamwe, Tapiwa Mufudza, Faraz Akram, Kudzai Maunze, Larvet Masunda, Emmanuel Bawa, Tinotenda Maposa, Rodney Mupfudza, Munashe Chipara, Wallace Mubaiwa, Tawanda Maposa, Kundai Matigimu, Alex Falao, Ryan Kamwemba, Marshall Takodza, Talent. Dzikiti, Wishnanzy Chapfombo

*MOUNTAINEERS* Tendai Chatara, Wellington Masakadza, Victor Nyauchi, Joylord Gumbie, Mathew Welch, Brian Bennett, Dion Myers, Nicholas Welch, Owen Muzondo, Timycen Maruma, Tinashe Muchawaya, Vincent Masekesa, Alistair Frost, Kevin Kasuza, Jayden Schadendorf, Spencer Magodo, Clive Imbayago, Nkosilathi Nungu, Arineshto Vezha, Michael Frost, Ashley Mufandauya

*SOUTHERN ROCKS* Richmond Mutumbami, Jonathan Campbell, Roy Kaia, Tafadzwa Tsiga, William Mashinge, Cephas Zhuwao, Cuthbert Musoko, Priviledge Chesa, Takudzwa Chataira, Alvin Chiradza, Keith Jaure, Dylan Hondo, Sydney Murombo, Newman Nyamhuri, Gabriel Jaya, Tawananyasha Kasondo, Takunda Madembo, Blessing Muzarabani, Innocent Kaia, Sikandar Raza

*TUSKERS*

Ernest Masuku, Ainsley Ndlovu, Brian Chari, Nkosana Mpofu, Tanunurwa Makoni, Tafara Mupariwa, Ali Hamid, Mgcini Dube, Dalubuhle Mboyi, Charlton Tshuma, Tanatswa Bechani, Raymond Kasimo, Nkosibongwe Gogodo, Adrian Mupembe, Prince Kaunda, Brandon James, Mandisi Moyo, Sean Williams, Luke Jongwe, Milton Shumba, Clive Madande

*RHINOS* Takudzwanashe Kaitano, Prince Masvaure, Tashinga Musekiwa, Antum Naqvi, Awad Naqvi, Kudakwashe Macheka, Nyasha Mayavo, Ben Curran, Michael Chinouya, Victor Chirwa, Neville Madziva, Trevor Gwandu, Ali Hasan, Solomon Mire, Jabulisa Tshuma, Tafara Chingwara, Davis Murwendo, Bright Matsiwe, Ronald Masocha, Walter Matawu, Mason Chikowero, Brandon Mavuta, Ryan Burl, Brad Evans

Makauyo, Chitumba and Chiorah all dumped by Mountaineers too despite having really good NPL's.

Also nothing for Mukabeta, Zata or Simbi.

tawac wrote: ↑Fri Oct 25, 2024 10:40 am

secretzimbo wrote: ↑Fri Oct 25, 2024 10:03 am

Makauyo, Chitumba and Chiorah all dumped by Mountaineers too despite having really good NPL's.

Also nothing for Mukabeta, Zata or Simbi.

Do Franchises actually have a say on who plays for them? Who picks these sides?

In theory the head coaches and team managers of each franchise decide. But as ever HQ will force certain things through and dictate certain selections.

E.g. you can see Steve’s influence at Mountaineers immediately. Dumped several local Mutare lads and brought some of his favourites in. Welch, Schadendorf, Frost’s, Muzondo, Mufandauya are all his guys

The squads have been reasonably stable for a while, but this season there have been a few movements.

I guess the coaches have the biggest input, but The Green Label brigade also have a say eg Evans being moved from Eagles and guys who should be put out to pasture getting another year, and a couple of others who shouldnt be near professional cricket.

The better players can obviously ask around if they're looking for a new environment or a better deal.

Mangongo seems to have included a few white guys in Mountaineers. He's offered NW the captaincy, which he's been after for a while and obviously a decent deal to MW, statistically the best opener in Zim by a big margin, which he wasn't going to get at Eagles. Its truly bizarre that Eric let them go. He's the only franchise coach that doesn't have to worry about his job though and everyone wants to play at Eagles for convenience sake so he can pick and choose.

Mountaineers have Welch Bros, Frost Bros, Bennett, Schadendorf and possibly Moor (although I'm not seeing his name). That's unusual and I don't think will be too popular amongst the locals.

4 of these squads look strong. For example

Mountaineers have Gumbie, Welchx2, Bennett, Myers, Moor, Kasuza, Frost, Masakadza, Schadendorf.

As batters. I wasn't looking at the bowlers.

Rhino's look strong on paper. Don't know what's happening today though. The cricket has been diabolical, part from Craig.

I note both Shumba and Kaia are still listed in squads despite being in Australia.

Does anyone know where Munyonga is? I hope he hasn’t given up. I still rate him.

He was last listed in the Mountaineers squad.

He was in Mountaineers and now it appears he isn't?

But he's too good not to be somewhere, so where is he? He's one of our best batters.

It means these lists aren't complete or there's still some shuffling to do. I don't think he played yesterday so it's very strange.

Makes me wonder if there's an issue between him and Mangongo? If Steven decides he doesn't like you it's a problem 😂

Nyauchi, Masakadza, Gumbie, Chatara, Maruma, Manyonga, Welch Snr, Moor and Kasuza are experienced campaigners, Bennett and Myers can't really be classified as Development because they're firmly in the mix.

What he has done is picked 7 white guys, we haven't seen that for about 20 years 😂

I'm not sure what their strongest team is for 50 over?

I'd go with

Gumbie

Welch Jr

Welch Snr

Bennett

Myers

Moor

Mike Frost (watch this guy, left arm spin)

Vezha/Muchawaya

Masakadza

Nyauchi

Chatara

I'd have the Pakistani (assuming one is coming?) Frost Snr, Muchawaya/Vezha, Maruma, Manyonga on the bench.

This is a really tough team to make if everyone is there.

Oh am hearing Kaif Patel (SA spinner), puts Mike Frost at risk if he's any good?

If anyone doesn't perform there's a long season on the bench.

Steven is going to have to have a bit of a squad rotation or there will be some glum faces.

If all the squads are at full strength they're all very very competitive this year.

Rhinos look very very strong as well. Dunno where Brookes is going but he's a handful.