The 2026 National Premier League (NPL) T20 Blast will have an added African dimension when it begins on 8 October, with eight young players from four associate nations joining the competition.
The cricketers, drawn from Uganda, Nigeria, Rwanda and Tanzania, arrived in Zimbabwe on 6 October and will be hosted by Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) during their participation in the tournament.
Now in its fifth year, Zimbabwe’s premier club T20 competition will provide the visiting players with valuable playing opportunities and competitive exposure while strengthening cricketing partnerships across the continent.
Eight players, eight clubs
Tanzania’s Laksh Snehal Bakrania will join defending champions Gladiators, while fellow Tanzanian Dhrumit Atul Mehta will represent SOGO Rangers.
Uganda’s Gerald Olipa will turn out for Takashinga Patriots 1, with Juma Miyaji joining Old Hararians.
Nigeria will be represented by Elijah Saturday Jimmy at Queens Sports Club and Prosper Buden-Ikpe Useni at Mbizo.
Rwanda’s Oscar Manishimwe will play for Eastern Titans, while Ignace Ntirenganya joins Rimuka.
The placements will give the players an opportunity to test themselves in Zimbabwe’s club cricket environment, experience different playing conditions and learn alongside local players.
Building opportunities for African cricket
The invitations were extended through ZC Managing Director Givemore Makoni and ZC Chairman Tavengwa Mukuhlani, who also serves as Chairman of the Africa Cricket Association (ACA) and Deputy Chairperson of the International Cricket Council (ICC).
Cricket Uganda President Jackson Kavuma welcomed the initiative, highlighting both the opportunity for the players and the wider benefit to their teammates at home.
“A big thank you to Zimbabwe Cricket for granting our players this valuable opportunity for playing time and exposure,” Kavuma said.
“We hope they return as better and more improved players carrying with them the skills, experience and knowledge gained to share with and inspire their teammates back home.
“This opportunity is an important step in uplifting ACA cricket among our member states and we hope to continue benefiting from such meaningful synergies and partnerships.”
