'Back to school' for Zimbabwe cricketers

It was back to school in Delhi today (Tuesday 05 March) for the Zimbabwe cricket team touring India.

But they were not going for cricket lessons, even though one could say they would not be out of the way, following the 2-nil defeat by India in the Test series.

The Old Mutual Zimbabwe cricket team visited the Delhi Public School in the Indian capital, as a community service.

Accompanied by Zimbabwe High Commissioner to India Lucia Muvingi, the players gave out some cricket tips, batted , bowled and signed autographs for the awe-struck pupils.

The Delhi Public School, a unique combination of an elite institution offering "hot-seating" classes to children from the capital's slums, has an enrolment of ten (10) thousand and a staffcomplement of seven hundred (700).

Proposing an exchange programme, Vice-Principal Doctor Daulat Ram Saini said any Zimbabwe school that can bring a team to play them will not have to worry about board and lodging plus transport in Delhi.

Last night, a reception was held for the Zimbabwe team by an Indian financial services enterprise, which is a joint venture with Zimbabwe cricket sponsors Old Mutual, in the life insurance company OM Kotak Mahindra.

Hasan Askari represented Old Mutual, while OM Kotak was represented by its Managing Director Shivaji Dam and Chairman Uduay Kotak.

Zimbabwe bowler Raymond Price, who took five wickets for 182 in 68-overs of the first innings of the first test and four in the second, was given a prize for having been the most exciting visiting player of the series.

Four cricket bats autographed by the Zimbabwe team were auctioned for the benefit of a local children's charity.

Zimbabwe Cricket Union board member and chairman of its marketing and communications committee Ozias Bvute, thanked the sponsors and expressed hope that the partnership would move from strength to strength.

He then gave away some Zimbabwe team jerseys.

Old Mutual are the official sponsors of the Zimbabwe cricket team for the next three (3) years, underwriting all their home and away matches, including the 2003 World Cup, set for South Africa and Zimbabwe.

The India tour is the first under the contract which covers twelve (12) series, with matches against every major cricket-playing nation, between now and 2005.