By Sports Reporter
HARARE — The National Premier League (NPL) T20 Blast gets underway in Harare on Thursday, with Takashinga Patriots 1 heading into the competition as favourites after an unbeaten Super40 campaign.
Takashinga Patriots 1 finished top of the 2026 NPL Super40 standings after winning all nine of their matches, setting the benchmark for the eight teams that qualified for the T20 Blast.
The tournament brings together the top eight clubs from the Super40 competition, with each team playing every other side once in the 20-over round-robin phase before the playoffs.
Adding an international flavour to this year’s competition are Nigerian players Prosper Useni and Elijah Saturday Jimmy, who have been drafted into the Zimbabwe National Premier League.
Useni will turn out for Mbizo Cricket Club, while Jimmy joins Queens Cricket Club as both players take on a new challenge in Zimbabwe’s domestic cricket.
The opening round of matches will be played at Harare Sports Club and Takashinga Cricket Club on Thursday.
Reigning champions Gladiators Cricket Club will begin their title defence against Rimuka Cricket Club at Harare Sports Club at 2pm, while Queens face SOGO Rangers at Takashinga Cricket Club at 9.30am.
Takashinga Patriots 1 will take on Mbizo at Harare Sports Club at 5pm, while Eastern Titans meet Old Hararians at Takashinga at 2pm.
The round-robin matches will continue on Friday through to Wednesday, October 14, across the three Harare venues.
The tournament then moves into the playoff stage, with the top two teams meeting in the first Qualifier at Harare Sports Club on Thursday, October 15, at noon.
The third- and fourth-placed sides will face off in the Eliminator at the same venue at 4pm, with the winner advancing to Qualifier 2.
Qualifier 2 will be played on Friday, October 16, at 3pm, with the loser of Qualifier 1 taking on the Eliminator winner.
The two surviving teams will contest the final at Takashinga Cricket Club on Saturday, October 17, at 1.30pm.
The T20 Blast follows the 14-team NPL Super40, which was played on a round-robin basis, with the league leader crowned champion. The top eight teams qualified for the T20 Blast, while the top 10 earned places in the NPL Age Group League.
With Takashinga Patriots 1 carrying an unbeaten record into the tournament and defending champions Gladiators looking to retain their crown, the T20 Blast promises an exciting battle for domestic cricket supremacy.
