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Promising 18-year-old fast bowler Zac Gibson from Te Awamutu has become the first recipient of a new Maori cricket scholarship.
Kirikiti Aotearoa Karahipi o Te Tohu Taakaro o Aotearoa Scholarship is a partnership between New Zealand Cricket and the Maori Sports Award.
The Ngati Raukawa youngster says he chose cricket over rugby after having his collarbone broken in a Chiefs Under 18 games last year.
Gibson represents Waikato Valley and this month played for Northern Districts A.
He has a chance of making the New Zealand squad for next month’s ICC Under-19 World Cup in Bangladesh.
New Zealand Cricket chief executive David White says one of the aims of the scholarship is to dispel the notion cricket is not popular among Maori.
He says recent Maori high achievers in international cricket have included Shane Bond, Trent Boult, Kyle Mills, Suzie Bates, Sara McGlashan, Ben Wheeler, Doug Bracewell, Lea Tahuhu and umpire Kathy Cross.
Copyright © 2015, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com
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