admin
Eddie Chikamhi Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE Cricket will remember the year 2013 mostly for their historic Test win over Pakistan and the few sparks of promise against Bangladesh when they count on the positives.The 24-run victory in the second Test against the Asian giants at Harare Sports Club was probably the major highlight of a season that was characterised by many challenges both at home and abroad.
In a year of ups and downs, the positives can be easily eclipsed, though, by the storms that hit hard on the domestic game and left it in the intensive care by the end of the year.
Cricket is in dire straits with no quick fix in sight as players are up in arms with the cash-strapped association over unpaid salaries and have vowed to press on with their boycott of matches if their plight is not addressed in the New Year.
Zimbabwe Cricket opened the 2013 chapter on an ominous note with a boardroom storm that sucked in then Education, Sports, Arts and Culture Minister David Coltart, the Sports Commission and the members of the cricket administration over the proposed guidelines for the composition of the panel of the national team selectors.
Coltart issued a directive through the SRC that as from February, only those that had played for the national team would qualify to hold positions in the office of the selectors.
The decree torched a fierce dispute that threatened the soul of the game. However, the move by the minister, which was roundly condemned as racially motivated and in violation of the constitution, was vehemently rejected by the cricket administration.
The debate and the controversies surrounding it virtually overshadowed the national team’s preparations for their February tour of the West Indies, which in the end was a disaster.
The team departed for the Caribbean Islands with the fires still raging and coach Alan Butcher could never have wished for such a wretched end to his reign as Zimbabwe coach as they were comprehensively beaten in all seven matches across three formats.
Zimbabwe played two Twenty20 Internationals, two Tests and a three-match One Day International series against a West Indies side that was also not doing well at the time and only found redemption with a ruthless display against the troubled visitors.
The only consolation they can take is that Shane Shillingford, who was the destroyer-in-chief, had his bowling action questioned by the International Cricket Council.
Zimbabwe then hosted Bangladesh between April and May with Steve Mangongo as acting coach following the departure of Butcher.
The team wrote considerable success stories as they won the ODI series 2-1 and drawing in the Tests and T20s.
Former Test player Andy Waller then stepped onto the stage as the next coach when he was confirmed shortly before ZC hosted world champions India in a marathon five-match ODI series in July.
The hosts were no match for the superior Asians as they lost 5-0 to force for another introspection on the direction the game was taking.
To their credit, Zimbabwe managed to pick up the pieces when they hosted Pakistan in their last international assignment between August and September.
Despite losing the ODI and T20 series, Zimbabwe still made headlines with the famous 24-run win in the second Test at Harare Sports Club which levelled the two-match series.
That victory, which was Zimbabwe’s first against a top Test nation, other than Bangladesh, in 12 years, was one of the moments to cherish, especially coming against the backdrop of some brave showing by the home side during that tour in which they also won an ODI match.
Unity of purpose won the day as the home team managed to grind results despite threats of a boycott over unpaid salaries prior to that match.
It was also an unforgettable experience for rising fast bowler Tendai Chatara who was the star of the show after claiming a memorable five-wicket haul to help Zimbabwe level the series 1-1.
Overall, the national team had a fair share of international assignments that ZC have always clamoured for.
Their financial insecurities forced the cancellation of another tour by Sri Lanka later in the year, which meant another drought until next year’s T20 World Cup.
ZC’s major undoing was their poor financial standing which has almost crippled the domestic game. The cash squeeze has led to the loss of players like Kyle Jarvis, Craig Ervine, who opted to play club cricket in England, and Graeme Cremer who is in semi-retirement.
Zimbabwe’s prospects of wooing Gary Balance were quashed as the talented young batsman finally made it into the England team.
Cricket also bade farewell to veteran spinner Ray Price, Stuart Matsikenyeri and Greg Lamb who announced their retirement from the game.
The financial glitches and the absence of sponsors were a major setback for the game. The season only got off to a false start, three months late, and with no sponsors for all three formats.
However, the absence of senior players meant that no competitive games could be played and the association had to abandon the second round matches without a ball being bowled.
It is not even clear if the games will resume on January 18 as per the fixture programme as the players vowed to continue with the boycott.
There have been reports that the restart may be postponed by another month when ZC hope to clear all the outstanding payments.
All in all, it has been a roller-coaster year for the cricketers.
Online Reporter