With just a few weeks to go, the Zambia Pool Union (ZPU) will be sending out the National Pool teams to represent the country at the next Blackball International event, which will be hosted in South Africa next month. The 2023 Hawley Cup is set to start in just 6 weeks, and the Zambia Pool Union continues to prepare the finalists in order to defend the title, which is currently held by Zambia. On Sunday, 4th May 2023, the Zambia Pool Union unveiled the provisional squad for the national team, which will play a series of matches before the final squad selection. The general secretary of ZPU, Mr. Tesfa Shinkombwe, expressed optimism for this year's tournament, as both the men's and women's teams will be heading to South Africa to defend the Africa Cup title, which will undoubtedly be a challenging task. Meanwhile, some of the players who have made it to the men's provisional squad, as announced by the men's team coach, Mr. Leonard Milomo, include: Victory Sinyinza and Chileshe Mubanga from Lusaka Province, Dickson Mutale, Loyd Chungu, and Misheck Phiri from Copperbelt Province, Elias Miti from Eastern Province, and Innocent from Meleki Kapiri and Mike Lungu from Mazabuka Southern Province, among others. The women's team coach, Bongani Maano, has announced the players who have made it to the final squad. They include: Chabota Hamoonga from Southern Province, Josephine K Nakubaya from Eastern Province, Chimwemwe Mwale from Lusaka, and Rashida Mulenga, former Kalulushi Mayor, from the Copperbelt, among others.