African Sports Insights

HARARE – Former Zimbabwe cricketer and administrator Ray Gripper has died at the age of 88. Opening batsman Gripper’s innings of 279 not-out for Rhodesia against Orange Free State in the 1967-68 season remained a Currie Cup record for a prolonged time. Raymond Arthur Gripper was born on 7 July 1938 in Harare (then Salisbury), in the then colony of Southern Rhodesia, Growing up. In his adulthood, Gripper balanced cricket with his full-time occupation as a farmer. He was

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HARARE – For one close-knit farming family from Rusape, northeastern Zimbabwe, 1987 was a truly special year. Two of their own featured in one of the most iconic sporting milestones in the country’s history. First cousins Kenyon Ziehl and Kevin Curran, both Rusape born-and-bred, went to the World Cup five months apart. In the same calendar year, in two different sports. Fast forward, a World Cup for Zimbabwe in both rugby and cricket, in the same year, is a feat the Afr

ABU DHABI – Afghanistan registered a 158-run rout of Zimbabwe at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Monday (October 19). Sediqullah Atal’s century and Rashid Khan’s four-wicket haul pushed Afghanistan’s net run rate to +3.160, effectively leaving Zimbabwe and Bangladesh to fight it out for the other spot in the final. Chasing 295, Zimbabwe only needed to score 196 to ensure that the final on Friday (October 23) would be a repeat of this contest. Instead, they ended up

Bayern Munich host Arsenal at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday 21 October, with kick-off at 21:00 CAT (20:00 UK time), in Game Week 3 of the Champions League league phase. Arsenal arrive 7th on 6 points after two wins from two, while Bayern are 10th on 4 points, so there is plenty at stake for both sides. Form guide: Bayern beat RB Leipzig 6-1 in the Bundesliga, with Luis Díaz scoring a hat-trick, and earlier beat Union Berlin 7-0, but they were held to a 3-3 draw by Viking in

ABU DHABI – Zimbabwe secured a commanding 99-run victory over Bangladesh in the opening match of the ODI tri-series at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. Veterans Craig Ervine (93) and Brendan Taylor (81) pulled Zimbabwe out of a hole with a 150-run stand to help post a respectable 271/8 before the bowlers choked Bangladesh inside 34 overs. Zimbabwe opted to bat first but suffered an early blow when Taskin Ahmed delivered a fiery opening spell, reducing them to 24 for 3

DUBAI – The International Cricket Council (ICC) is deeply saddened by the passing of former Zimbabwe women’s cricketer and international umpire Sarah Dambanevana. Dambanevana, who has passed away following a brief illness, represented Zimbabwe as a fast bowler before transitioning into officiating, where she established herself as one of the country’s pioneering female match officials. Her journey from international cricketer to umpire reflected her enduring commitment to t

By Enock Muchinjo HARARE – Former Zimbabwe ace Sean Williams has opened up about his “personal” decision to suddenly withdraw from the team a year ago, taking full responsibility for his subsequent removal from the team to mark an abrupt end to his decorated international career. Williams, one of Zimbabwe’s best cricketers of all time, made global headlines in September 2025 when he pulled out of the squad for an important T20 World Cup qualification tournament in Harare.

KAMPALA – Zimbabwe have gained promotion to World Rugby HSBC SVNS 3 after beating hosts Uganda 26-19 in a tantalising World Rugby SVNS 3 Africa Qualifiers final on Sunday, following a two-day, high-tempo tournament in Kampala. The two teams came into the tournament as co-favourites to clinch the title and, true to form, both displayed a blend of enterprising rugby over the weekend, with hosts Uganda ultimately suffering heartbreak in front of a partisan home crowd at Kyadon

HARARE – Zimbabwe stunned West Indies in the second women's ODI in Harare, as they registered only their second win against a Full Member side in the format. Nyasha Gwanzura (4 for 33), Michelle Mavunga (3 for 36) and Francisca Chipare (2 for 16) set the victory up for the hosts, who bowled West Indies out for 139. Zimbabwe chased the target down with 55 balls and four wickets to spare. As a result, the three-match series was levelled at 1-1 after West Indies had won the fi

HARARE – Marshall Munetsi inspired a dramatic comeback as Zimbabwe fought back from two goals down at half-time to beat Sierra Leone 3-2 on Thursday and make a winning start to their Africa Cup of Nations Group E qualification campaign. The Wolves midfielder sparked the comeback with a 72nd-minute goal before Tawanda Chirewa equalised just four minutes later. Munetsi then completed the turnaround in the 88th minute, scoring the winner to seal a remarkable victory for the

HARARE – Australia completed a 3-0 sweep, but after comfortable victories in the first two matches they needed a single from Ellis off the second last ball to pip the hosts. Zimbabwe won the toss and posted 271-8 with unbeaten captain Sikandar Raza (81), Craig Ervine (59) and Innocent Kaia (55), who retired with a hamstring injury, scoring half centuries. After the cheap departures of Travis Head (6) and Matt Renshaw (4) – centurions in the earlier ODIs – wicketkeeper Ing

HARARE – Travis Head's century led a strong batting performance from Australia, which was followed by a clinical bowling effort as they won the second ODI against Zimbabwe in Harare by 84 runs to seal the three-match series with a game remaining. Head's 112 off 84 was supported by half-centuries from Mitchell Marsh (53) and Cooper Connolly (78) as Australia posted 356 or 6 before bowling Zimbabwe out 272 to take a 2-0 lead in the series. Zimbabwe's new-ball bowlers found so

By SportsCast Writer HARARE – Zimbabwean mixed martial artist Lewis Mataya last week exploded into the limelight with a debut EFC fight win over Ayanda Zwane, sending the South African into early retirement from the sport. 28-year-old Mataya won the featherweight bout at the EFC Arena in Johannesburg last Thursday, a culmination of a 15-year long journey since he first took up martial arts in his early teens. With that defeat, Zwane (27) made the immediate decision to q

The ICC board has appointed Zimbabwe Cricket chief Tavengwa Mukuhlani as its deputy chair in the lead-up to hosting the 2027 ODI World Cup in Southern Africa. A press release on Thursday said, "With his leadership experience at Zimbabwe Cricket and his understanding of the region, Mr Mukuhlani will bring valuable insight as the ICC and its members work towards delivering a landmark World Cup that will return the tournament to Africa after 24 years and further strengthen the

HARARE – Zimbabwe have named a 15-member squad for their three-match ODI series against Australia at Harare Sports Club, with Sikandar Raza set to captain the side. The matches will take place on September 15, 18 and 20, marking Australia’s first ODI visit to Zimbabwe in more than a decade. Raza will lead the side as regular captain Richard Ngarava continues his recovery from a lower-back injury. Tanaka Chivanga, who is sidelined with an Achilles tendon injury, also misse