NATIONAL Premier League (NPL) defending champions Takashinga Patriots 1 have signed former Zimbabwe cricket captain Brendan Taylor and Graeme Cremer for this year’s edition of NPL.

The two join a strong squad boasting another ex-Zimbabwe skipper, Hamilton Masakadza, and T20I captain Sikandar Raza, exciting young prospects Antum Naqvi, Ronak Patel, Michael Blignaut, Kundai Matigimu, Tashinga Makoni, and Usher Garwe.

The side already boasts stalwarts like seamers Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava, Tanaka Chivanga, and Nigel Mupurura. Add to that team captain Timycen Maruma, brothers Innocent and Roy Kaia, wicketkeeper batsmen Joylord Gumbie and Tafadzwa Tsiga, as well as Privilege Chesa and Bryn Majoka, making them formidable opponents.

Takashinga Cricket Club chairperson Blessing Ngondo is excited to see how his squad will fare against other formidable teams in the 45-over competition.

“Big club attract big signings,” he said.

“What Takashinga has achieved over the years cannot be matched by any team, and we keep working hard to make the club better than it was before. We had a positive selection headache; we actually wanted to sign more, but the tournament rules could not allow us to do so. It’s going to be a healthy squad made up of both youth and experience, and we couldn’t have asked for anything better this season.”

The Takashinga Patriots 1 NPL squad includes Innocent Kaia, Joylord Gumbie, Timycen Maruma, Chris Masike, Bryn Majoka, Ngonidzashe Gongera, Brighton Chipungu, Kundai Matigimu, Nigel Mupurura, Usher Garwe, Graeme Cremer, Privilege Chesa, Hamilton Masakadza, Roy Kaia, Brendan Taylor, Antum Naqvi, Tafadzwa Tsiga, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava, Tanaka Chivanga, Sikandar Raza, Michael Blignaut, Tashinga Makoni, Samuel Muyambo, and Ronak Patel.