No play as rain spoils Logan Cup
"Much ado about nothing"
Joe Ruzvidzo
03-Mar-2001
"Much ado about nothing". Best used to describe this year's Logan Cup competition,
Shakespeare's words have a very real meaning to the players vying for national
selection ahead of the hectic international schedule. As heavy rainfall sweeps across
the country, the Logan Cup competition has been going in stops and starts, with the Umpires
resorting to the old "we'll see" story as far as play is concerned.
Harare, boasting sunny skies and exciting cricket on the afternoon of the first day, has been plagued by
intermittent showers and cloudy skies this morning, destroying any chance of a reasonable
contest between Mashonaland and their 'A' side. Tipped to be one of the more exciting
matches of this year's competition, barring the Mashonaland-Matebeleland clash, this contest
has been degraded to a "we'll wait and see" game, with players like Andy Flower and Alistair
Campbell sitting around and possibly ruminating on the forthcoming Bangladesh, West Indies and
India tours.
The same applies for the Manicaland and Matabeleland teams, who (having abandoned any hopes of playing
yesterday) are hoping for a good day and maybe a one innings match to kick off tomorrow. In Kwekwe,
where Midlands play host to the CFX Academy, rain has also ruined any chances of an early kick-off,
and probably any hopes of an actual result. Despite the optimism displayed by Midlands captain
and Zimbabwe ODI player Douglas Marillier, the players are still sitting around and waiting for
something to happen.
For those hoping to make a good show before the national selectors pick their squads to take on
Bangladesh in April, it's all nerves and frustration. With the cream of the national crop waiting
around and watching the weather forecast, it's a terrible shame that all the youngsters who could
gain valuable experience from playing with and against their mentors have to do the same. At the
moment, only Kwekwe Sports Club can hope for any cricket at all, and the rest will just wait around
and blame it all on the weatherman. As it stands, rain has interrupted play at all three venues.