Online Reporter
Don Makanyanga-Zimpapers Sports Hub
AFRICA Cricket Association chairman Tavengwa Mukuhlani believes Zimbabwe and South Africa have a crucial role to play in growing the sport on the continent and should take the lead in that endeavour.
Mukuhlani, who is also the Zimbabwe Cricket boss wants the continent’s only full International Cricket Council members South Africa and Zimbabwe to flex their muscles on development.
He believes that the two countries’ involvement will give the ACA the impetus which the continental body needs to develop the sport.
Zimbabwe successfully hosted the ICC T20 World Cup regional qualifiers early this month and the level of the competition exhibited from the teams that took part delighted the African chairman, who was elected to the post of uncontested in July.
“ACA has been in existence for some time now but over the years its spotlight had declined over the years for various reasons.
“Among the reasons is that South Africa and Zimbabwe had not been very active and the associates members were now basically running Africa Cricket on their own which was challenging but to their credit they kept it alive,’’ Mukuhlani said.
“I think with Zimbabwe and South Africa involved, it gives Africa Cricket Association the much-needed impetus to grow.”
He said the first step that they have taken to revitalise the continental cricket body was to set up governance structures.
“The involvement of the two full member states in Africa Cricket from a governance point of view is a good thing. Because then, if leadership is coming from full members, who have an understanding of the ropes of running cricket at higher level it helps in the growth of the sport.”
He added that plans are afoot to re-introduce the Africa Cup.
“We have restructured ACA from a governance point of view.
“The next step forward is to reintroduce Africa Cup, which should feature South Africa and Zimbabwe and the associate nations in Africa.
“And if you look at the just-ended Africa region ICC World Cup qualifiers, that’s your Africa Cup in essence.
“I am happy to say our managing director and the MD for Cricket South Africa are involved in the crafting of that tournament while we have also seconded Hamilton Masakadza to help with cricket affairs.
“Masakadza is working with ACA CEO Cassim Suliman Kassem to try and come up with that tournament.
“That for us is the platform to grow cricket in Africa,” said Mukuhlani.
He also hailed the relationship that exist between Africa and India.
“India is one of the big countries that tours Zimbabwe regularly and religiously and the use of Omtex Academy by Uganda, Nigeria and other African countries is encouraging.
“What is happening at Omtex Academy must be happening at BAC in Bulawayo, at Takashinga in Harare and in South Africa.
“South Africa and Zimbabwe, we need to emulate that, what India is doing in helping all these countries, so that we continue to develop,” he said.
Mukuhlani is also banking on the goodwill that ACA has from the ICC.
