Zimbabwe have been picked in Pool C of the third edition of the Africa Cup tournament to be held in South Africa between August and September this year.

Zimbabwe are one of the three countries that have been invited to the tournament alongside Namibia and Kenya. The Chevrons have featured in the previous editions of the tournament and this year they will face Free State, KZN Inland and Boland Pool C to be played at Mangaung Oval from September 9-11.

Pool A which comprise Easterns, Western Province, South West Districts and Namibia will get the ball rolling at the Sahara Park, Willowmoore from August 25-27.

According to the draw conducted by Cricket South Africa Chief executive Haroon Lorgat on Wednesday afternoon, Kenya will be in Pool D together with Northern Cape, KZN and Border while Pool B will be made up of North West, Northerns, Gauteng and defending champions Eastern Province.

The semi-finals and final for pool winners will be played at the Diamond Oval on the weekend of September 24-25.

“The Africa Cup is finding a coveted place in our domestic season and once again it will launch the 2017/18 season and if past experiences are anything to go by we can again look forward to highly entertaining and competitive cricket. 

“We wanted this competition to bridge the gap between senior provincial and franchise cricket and to aid the development of cricket on the African continent. I believe we are achieving both aims. 

“This tournament has become an important part of our development pipeline. Heinrich Klaasen, Lungi Ngidi, Tabraiz Shamsi and Andile Phehlukwayo all played in the inaugural Africa T20 Cup in 2015 and have gone on to represent the Standard Bank Proteas this past season.

“I would like to thank Zimbabwe, Namibia and Kenya for once again accepting our invitations to participate in this tournament,” said Lorgat. 

Africa Cup draw:

Pool A -  Easterns, WP, SWD, Namibia

Pool B -  North West, Northerns, Gauteng, EP

Pool C - Free State, KZN Inland, Zimbabwe, Boland

Pool D - Northern Cape, KZN, Kenya, Border