Rising Stars
Personnel
CaptainTarisai Musakanda
Team information
Founded2017
Home groundTakashinga Cricket Club, Highfield, Harare

The Rising Stars were a Zimbabwean first-class cricket team that was formed in 2017. They played their home matches at Takashinga Cricket Club, Highfield, Harare.[1] The team was founded by Zimbabwe's former Test cricket captain Tatenda Taibu.[2] They played in Zimbabwe's domestic cricket competitions, starting with the 2017–18 Logan Cup.[1]

In October 2017, they lost their opening first-class fixture in the Logan Cup to the Mid West Rhinos by 7 wickets.[3] Despite the loss, Zimbabwe's former captain Brendan Taylor praised the team saying that they have some excellent bowlers and deserve their first-class status.[4] Later the same month, in the third round of fixtures, they won their maiden first-class match, beating Matabeleland Tuskers by 268 runs.[5]

In May 2018, they qualified for the final of the 2017–18 Pro50 Championship, in their first season of competing in the Pro50 Championship tournament, after finishing top in the group stage.[6][7] In the final, they beat Mountaineers by 144 runs to win their first title,[8] with Tony Munyonga named the player of the series.[9]

However, with Zimbabwe Cricket facing financial issues during the 2017–18 season,[10] it was unlikely that the Rising Stars would take part in the 2018–19 season.[11] In October 2018, it was confirmed that the team would be disbanded, with players distributed between the other four franchise teams in Zimbabwe.[12]

Squad

For the 2017–18 season, the squad contained the following players:[2][13]

References

  1. ^ a b "Harare-based Rising Stars added to Zimbabwe domestic set-up". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
  2. ^ a b "Rising Stars eye Logan Cup debut". The Herald. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  3. ^ "Logan Cup at Kwekwe, Oct 4-7 2017". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
  4. ^ ""I think this can be the best period of Zimbabwe cricket"". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  5. ^ "Logan Cup at Kwekwe, Oct 22-25 2017". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
  6. ^ "Tuskers win but Mountaineers, Stars to meet in final". Wisden India. 28 May 2018. Archived from the original on 29 May 2018. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
  7. ^ "Pro50 Championship Table – 2017–18". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
  8. ^ "Rising Stars topple Mountaineers to clinch Pro50 Championship". 3-Mob. 2 June 2018. Retrieved 2 June 2018.
  9. ^ "Final, Pro50 Championship at Harare, Jun 2 2018". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 2 June 2018.
  10. ^ "Zimbabwe Cricket gets ICC lifeline". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
  11. ^ "Muzarabani quits Zimbabwe for cricket in England". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
  12. ^ "Zimbabwe abridge first-class season, dismantle Rising Stars". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
  13. ^ "Somerset's Byrom signs with Zimbabwe domestic side". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 20 October 2017.

External links

Cricket in Zimbabwe
Stanbic Bank 20 Series
Categories