The squad for the Logan Cup has been hit by injuries and unavailability of three players, not a great start to the campaign. Keith Dabengwa, last year's CFX Academy student of the year, has undergone an emergency appendix operation, Clement Mahachi, also a student at the academy two years ago, has recurring back strains and Dash Vaghmaria is again unavailable.

With young Ian Engelbrecht, the promising left-arm spinner, overlooked by the selectors due to his imminent departure to the UK, and the absence of Dabengwa, young Gavin Ewing seems set to make his debut in the provincial side. It would now appear that the bowling will be focused around Mbangwa, Nkala, Townshend and Strydom, providing the seam attack, with Ewing and, depending on his form, Mecury Kenny as the two spinners.

Matabeleland open their season with a hard game against Mashonaland in Bulawayo and it will be interesting to see if the national players make themselves available having only just returned from their current tour and then the short tour of India. Should they be available then Heath Streak who for whatever reason was not named in the Logan Cup side will hopefully also be available. The forthcoming tour of India will mean the national players are away for the first two rounds of the competition.

In the National League some of the squad had reasonable performances, with Matthew Townshend of Queens taking three wickets in each game against Old Georgians and Alexandra Sports Club, a welcome return to form, while national team discard Mluleki Nkala did well with both bat and ball. Pommie Mbangwa had steady performances on both days, a player who is now thriving on his responsibilities as a captain.

Queens lost to Old Georgians and then beat Alexandra; Macdonald Club lost to Mutare Sports Club; Bulawayo Sports Club lost to Kwekwe Sports Club; while BAC also lost to Old Georgians. The gap between some of the Bulawayo sides and Harare sides still evident, though one must take into account the population ratio between the two cities.

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