Malawi’s cricket reputation has been enhanced after three female national team players have been signed by Zimbabwe’s White Rhinos Cricket Club.
Left-handed opening batter Praise Maziya, pace bowling all rounder Sungeni Kananji and spin bowling all rounder Lydia Dimba left the country yesterday for Zimbabwe.
They are expected to make their league debut tomorrow when Rhinos face Gladiators CC.
The Harare City new side has engaged the players for the entire 2025 season of the Harare Metropolitan Women’s Premier League.
Cricket Malawi Head of Cricket Operations Arjun Menon confirmed the development.
He said the Zimbabwe Defence Force-funded cricket team wanted to beef up the squad ahead of their debut season.
“The women’s [side] has just been founded this year and had approached Cricket Malawi to enquire into whether they would be able to engage the three players to play for their inaugural season in the league to further strengthen their team,” Menon said.
He said the development comes when the Malawi Women’s Team prepares for the Women’s T20 World Cup Africa Division 2 Qualifiers, which will take place in Gaborone, Botswana, in July.
“Playing in the Premier League in Zimbabwe, whose women’s team is currently ranked 14th in the world while Malawi is ranked 58th, should provide the exposure that Malawi’s players will need to better perform at these qualifiers,” he said.
White Rhinos CC Manager and Coordinator Crispen Tsoka, who in February 2024 toured with the men’s team, said he was impressed with the growth of cricket in Malawi.
Tsoka said they settled for the three after noticing their impressive performances during Malawi Women’s U-19s Team impressive campaign in the ICC Women’s U-19s World Cup Africa Division 2 Qualifiers.
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