By ELIAS CHIPEPO –
A CONFIDENT 20-member Zambian contingent yesterday left for South Africa ahead of today’s 2014 Pespi International Cricket Council (ICC) Africa Division Two T-20 six nation tournament opening match against Mozambique in Benoni.
The team that left aboard a South African Airways in the morning and the Sarfraz Patel captained side will take on Mozambique today seeking to win promotion to the Division One.
After today’s match, Zambia will shift attention to Seychelles whom they play tomorrow before facing Swaziland on Monday and will wrap up the campaign with two of the toughest matches against Ghana and Nigeria on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively.
The team will head into these matches knowing that the Under-19 side managed to beat the likes of Mozambique, Swaziland and Ghana during the tournament held in Lusaka two months ago.
Delegation leader Haroon Ghumra expressed confidence that the team will do Zambia proud going by the preparations that team has undergone.
Ghumra, who is also Zambia Cricket Union (ZCU) life member and Sports Council of Zambia (SCZ) board member, said the team is blend with experience and youth and that the players will fight towards qualifying to Division One.
ZCU president Reuben Chama was equally confident that the team will win promotion to Division One.
The team has Patel, Allan Nsensha, Mohamed Mitha, Madaliso Mvula, Sharif Yousuf, Himal Patel, Irfan Galiya, James Zimba, Kanswe Omala, Sarfaraz Yunus Patel, Musonda Yambayamba, Gladson Kandela, Ashraf Lulat and Imran Patel.