Cricketer arrested for attempted murder; Musakanda was trying to rebuild career in UK

By Agencies

Zimbabwean cricketer Tarisai Musakanda has been arrested and faces a serious charge of attempt to murder following a domestic dispute with his wife, Tinodiwanashe Makunike, also known as Mai Dewei.

Musakanda, who has represented Zimbabwe in five Tests, 16 ODIs, and 12 T20Is, last played international cricket nearly two years ago. His arrest is another troubling chapter in his personal life, following previous legal issues related to a fatal road accident in 2022.

In July this year he was reported to be trying to rebuild his career in the UK at Barton Cricket Club where he was the overseas player.

According to National Police Spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi, the altercation occurred when Mai Dewei had engaged two men to erect a shelter for her vending site.

The situation escalated when these men visited to collect their payment, leading to a clash with Musakanda.

Witnesses report that the incident took place around 3 am, with neighbours being awakened by Mai Dewei’s cries for help.

The situation quickly turned violent, with Musakanda allegedly using a kitchen knife to stab his wife. Mai Dewei sustained injuries to both hands and her back. This incident is not isolated, as the couple has reportedly had a history of domestic disputes.

Musakanda was subsequently arrested and is currently detained at Kwekwe Central Police Station.

This arrest comes after a previous legal issue in 2022, where Musakanda was charged with culpable homicide for causing the death of former tennis player Gwinyai Chingoka in a road accident. He was later cleared of those charges.

“I was all over the place, I had lost everything,” Musakanda told UK-based SportsCast in July this year.

After joining Barton Cricket Club in May, the cricketer said he was looking to get his life back together.

“This opportunity is very important for me because I had lost love of the game,” he said.

“I was going through the motions these last two seasons in Zimbabwean domestic cricket. I have managed to find my rhythm, and it has made it so much easier to get back to the routines that I used to go through when I was at the top of my game.”