Overlooked talent: Zimbabwe Cricket’s selection policy under fire

For an uncomfortably long time, the selection of Zimbabwe’s national cricket team has been shrouded in controversy. Selectors stand accused, time and again, of a glaring oversight: the repeated snubbing of genuinely deserving players, while others are granted what seems like an endless series of chances to “find their form”.

This sorry state of affairs has become a deeply ingrained, and frankly, disheartening feature of our national sport. Bias, it appears, has taken root, stifling the very talent that should be flourishing and denying countless athletes the opportunity to showcase their abilities on the international stage. The result? A nation robbed of its potential, and players left with broken dreams.

In January, an explosive leaked audio of Tendai Chatara circulated on social media, exposing the alleged rot within the selection process. Chatara accused selectors David Mutendera (convener) and Elton Chigumbura of nepotism, which he claimed was the root cause of Zimbabwe’s persistent struggles in international cricket.

Speaking passionately in his native Shona language, Chatara ranted: “David knows nothing; he didn’t play much cricket. He just gets instructions and does what he is told. Diva (Mutendera) does not care if you are good or not. How many coaches have left while he remains there? He (Mutendera) will just say, ‘I gave them who they requested.’”

He further accused Chigumbura of fast-tracking Newman Nyamhuri and Trevor Gwandu into the senior setup to maintain his relevance, as they are products of “his academy”.

“It’s just a matter of selfishness. He is trying to prove that since he was given the academy job, he can produce national team players and yet he is the national team selector. There is nothing like that. It’s like me saying I have an academy in Mutare and when players are needed for the national team, I will just select the Mutare boys. That’s just being selfish.”

Despite a swift apology, claiming he was “under the influence of a few drinks” and that his outburst stemmed from his own non-selection, Chatara raised undeniable concerns. There is a perceived bias within Zimbabwe Cricket’s selection process, leading many to label the Chevrons side “Takashinga”, implying some players must work twice as hard for recognition.

Historically, numerous players who consistently perform well have been overlooked without logical explanation. Brian Chari, for example, was the leading run-scorer in the Logan Cup, including a double century, yet was subsequently ignored.

While rumours circulated about a move to Denmark, Chari pledged his loyalty to Zimbabwe Cricket.

Ainsley Ndlovu, who excelled against visiting county sides with 10 wickets and 86 runs, including a five-wicket haul, was also inexplicably side-lined. Despite his Logan Cup success with 21 wickets and useful batting contributions, he was passed over.

If consistency were rewarded, fast bowler Ernest Masuku would have long been recognised. A leading wicket-taker in domestic cricket, he continues to be overlooked. Currently, he tops the 2024/25 Pro50 Championship with 14 wickets at an average of 19, yet receives limited opportunities. He was called up for the Zimbabwe “A” squad against Canada but played only the final match.

It seems Masuku’s domestic performances are never “good enough”. The continued snub of such a consistent performer raises serious questions. Ndlovu also only played one game in the Canada series.

Looking at the Canadian tour, many players from the Ireland series were given another chance, but Tinotenda Maposa remained on the sidelines, with no explanation regarding his absence. Tony Munyonga, Dion Myers, Nyasha Mayavo, and Tashinga Musekiwa, all part of the Ireland series, played against Canada, but there has been no word on Maposa’s status.

The plan for Maposa remains unclear. Despite numerous call-ups, he has only two Chevrons caps, one in T20Is and one in ODIs, against Pakistan and Afghanistan, respectively.

He performed well in his T20I debut, taking a wicket and scoring the winning runs, but his ODI debut was less successful.

However, he has been side-lined since. Called up for the Ireland series, he did not play a single match. His last professional match saw him take three wickets for Eagles in a Pro50 Championship defeat.

It remains unclear whether the selectors have predetermined plans, or if bias is at play. From a layman’s perspective, bias appears to be the issue, which should not be tolerated.

For Zimbabwe Cricket to grow, selection must be fair, allowing deserving players equal opportunities to prove themselves. Hard work must be rewarded, and nepotism eradicated.

Efforts to reach Mutendera for comment were unsuccessful.

@brandon_malvin