adminBrighton Zhawi
Zimbabwe Cricket’s suspension by the International Cricket Council runs so deep that some young cricketers are playing around with the word ‘suspension’ during their training sessions, a local junior cricket coach has revealed.
“I have been hearing it a lot,” said a coach who runs an Academy in Harare.
“Recently, one player missed a couple of training sessions and the kids were joking that ‘he has been suspended by his parents for breaking a window while playing backyard cricket’. If one bowls an illegal delivery, shouts of ‘you have been suspended’ are often heard. lt’s really interesting that these Under-13s, 14s or even 10s understand what’s going on,” he said.
But what is really going on?
Zimbabwe Cricket is currently suspended by ICC over ‘government interference’ after the Sport and Recreation Commission had suspended the ZC’s chairman Tavengwa Mukhuhlani and his entire board, including acting managing director Givemore Makoni.
This followed the ZC elections on June 17.
The SRC’s ruling came on June 21 then on July 18, the ICC suspended ZC.
Consequently, Zimbabwe cannot participate in any of the world body’s events.
The ICC directed the board’s reinstatement within three months. Following the reinstatement of that board on August 8, amongst a host of other agreements between the SRC and the ZC, the ICC will decide ZC’s fate at their next board meeting in October.
But as we wait for that, the national men’s team start camp tomorrow for a T20 Tri-series featuring hosts Bangladesh and Afghanistan from September 13 to 24. The national women’s team is also in camp preparing for the 2020 World Cup Global qualifiers, while the national Under-19, Under-17, Under-15 and Under-14 are on tour in South Africa.
So is our cricket back?
ICC’s suspension didn’t stop Zimbabwe from playing in bilateral or tri-series. The suspension only applied to ICC tournaments, which saw Zimbabwe being replaced by Nigeria in the men’s T20 World Cup qualifier and by Namibia in the women’s T20 World Cup qualifier.
A survey conducted by The Sunday Mail Sport revealed that the mood has lightened up in the local cricket fraternity.
The Bill Flower Academy has been a hive of activity, with many kids being coached.
Zimbabwe all-rounder Sikandar Raza has been practicing there as well and signing autographs for the junior players.
Some club cricketers have also been organising off-season matches. Harare Sports Club is slowly regaining its beauty, with head grounds man Samuel Matambanadzo and his crew working tirelessly on the field.
Zimbabwe is still suspended by the ICC but maybe cricket is back!
Who replaces Mire?
Australian based all-rounder Solomon Mire quit international cricket at the conclusion of Zimbabwe’s tour of Netherlands and Ireland in July, therefore someone will have to open the batting with skipper Hamilton Masakadza.
Farewell to Chingoka
Former ZC chairman Peter Chingoka passed on last Thursday. Many tributes have been pouring in for the late veteran sports administrator who will be buried tomorrow.
What they said
“So many people have been affected by everything that has been happening off the pitch but off-field politics shouldn’t affect what happens on the field. There are lots of lessons from what happened. We need to focus on the future and ensure that this doesn’t happen again. We have to put all that behind us.’’- Hamilton Masakadza.
Online Reporter