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Mayor Coltart makes an appeal to cricket lovers
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Bulawayo Mayor David Coltart has called on the city's cricket enthusiasts to turn out in numbers for the upcoming one-off Test match between Zimbabwe and Ireland, set to begin this Thursday at Queens Sports Club.
This will be only the second red-ball encounter between the two nations. The last time they faced off in a Test was in Belfast in 2023, where Ireland claimed a narrow four-wicket victory.
Mayor Coltart, in a post on his X account (formerly Twitter), urged cricket lovers not to miss the opportunity to watch high-quality cricket on home soil.
"The last Test against Afghanistan was poorly supported by residents, and we must not allow this to happen again," he wrote. "I urge all cricket lovers to make time to attend. This is guaranteed to be superb cricket, and entrance is free, so there is no excuse."
Coltart also highlighted the potential repercussions of low attendance, warning that it could lead to fewer international fixtures being hosted in Bulawayo. "The real danger is that if we do not support matches of this nature, that will be used as an excuse to reduce the number of internationals Zimbabwe plays in Bulawayo. So please make an effort to attend," he added.
The match is part of a broader series between Zimbabwe and Ireland, which includes three One Day Internationals (ODIs) and three T20 Internationals. While the Test will be played in Bulawayo, the white-ball matches will take place in Harare.
The ODI series is scheduled for February 14, 16, and 18, followed by the T20Is on February 22, 23, and 25.
Cricket fans in Bulawayo have been urged to show their support for the national team, with free entry providing an additional incentive to fill the stands at Queens Sports Club.
This will be only the second red-ball encounter between the two nations. The last time they faced off in a Test was in Belfast in 2023, where Ireland claimed a narrow four-wicket victory.
Mayor Coltart, in a post on his X account (formerly Twitter), urged cricket lovers not to miss the opportunity to watch high-quality cricket on home soil.
"The last Test against Afghanistan was poorly supported by residents, and we must not allow this to happen again," he wrote. "I urge all cricket lovers to make time to attend. This is guaranteed to be superb cricket, and entrance is free, so there is no excuse."
Coltart also highlighted the potential repercussions of low attendance, warning that it could lead to fewer international fixtures being hosted in Bulawayo. "The real danger is that if we do not support matches of this nature, that will be used as an excuse to reduce the number of internationals Zimbabwe plays in Bulawayo. So please make an effort to attend," he added.
The match is part of a broader series between Zimbabwe and Ireland, which includes three One Day Internationals (ODIs) and three T20 Internationals. While the Test will be played in Bulawayo, the white-ball matches will take place in Harare.
The ODI series is scheduled for February 14, 16, and 18, followed by the T20Is on February 22, 23, and 25.
Cricket fans in Bulawayo have been urged to show their support for the national team, with free entry providing an additional incentive to fill the stands at Queens Sports Club.
Source - bmetro
