Online Reporter
Gibson Nyikadzino
Senior Reporter
The Sports and Recreation Commission are opening investigations into allegations of bias, nepotism, regionalism and tribalism in Zimbabwe Cricket national teams’ selection process.
The probe comes after US-based Zimbabwean data analyst and lawyer, Paidamwoyo Madondo, petitioned the SRC on July 31 over what he termed “the systemic decline and rapid nosedive of Zimbabwe Cricket’s national teams” due to selections done without merit.
The petition, copied to the Minister of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture and the International Cricket Council (ICC), queried the selection process of players for the Under 19 team, Lady Chevrons and the Chevrons.
The Chevrons are currently hosting New Zealand in a Second Test in Bulawayo.
With a win seemingly elusive, the hosts are in search of redemption from recent disappointments.
The Chevrons have played seven Tests this year, the joint-most with Australia, but have recorded the worst performance for any team with six losses and just one win.
Madondo asked the SRC to make public the findings of the Inquiry Committee of 2023 that was led by Lloyd Mhishi and address allegations of unprofessional conduct by ZC U19 cricket team manager Frank Mawoza towards local cricket fans.
In 2023, ZC appointed a three-member panel led by Mhishi to investigate Chevron’s failure to qualify for both the ICC Men’s World Cup and the 2024 T20 World Cup and review the overall structure and operations within ZC. However, the report was never made public.
Mawoza is alleged to have used his X account (@FrankMawoza1), to condescendingly refer to cricket fans as “Rhodies” or “house negroes” when they queried the team selection processes.
Madondo outlined that over the past 10 years, the decline in performance by the Zimbabwe national cricket teams to countries like Uganda “with little or no established cricket history,” series losses to Namibia, the consistent losses to Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Scotland; and the defeat of the Lady Chevrons to Nigeria and Vanuatu have evidence of “racial, ethnic and geographical discrimination.”
He cited the cases of Trevor Gwandu, Newman Nyamhuri, Wellington Masakadza and Wessly Madhevere whom he alleged are being selected ahead of Ernest Masuku, Brad Evans, Matthew and Johnathan Campbell, Alister Frost and Matthew Welch to fast-track them into national prominence despite having poor statistics on the field.
“Masuku has put excellent numbers in domestic cricket, season after season. He has done the hard yards. Yet, he has been forced by the authorities to remain on the fringes, watching from the sidelines.
“Then there’s Newman Nyamhuri. He holds no distinct of standout statistics. Holds no defining performances in first-class or List A cricket and yet he’s handed opportunities across all formats. This kind of fast-tracking is usually reserved for rare talents, players who force their way in with something extraordinary, like David Warner, who put heads even before he played red-ball cricket.
However, Nyamhuri is far from that,” wrote Madondo.
He alleged, with statistical backing, that Gwandu’s selection into the national team “clearly has nothing to do with merit and is entirely based on some other clandestine considerations that are far divorced from merit.”
Madondo queried why Masakadza, who failed to make any meaningful impact against “unranked cricket nations such as Mozambique and Gambia,” was selected ahead of “Vincent Masekesa from Manicaland . . . who took five wickets on debut in Bangladesh, only to be dropped on the high-profile series against England.”
Another allegation of conflict of interest was raised in the petition with reference to Elton Chigumbura’s selection into the Chevrons squad while he holds various positions that include being head coach of the Zimbabwe U19 team, head coach of Takashinga Cricket Club, and head of the Elton Chigumbura Cricket Academy.
“These positions would reasonably give rise to issues of bias and disclosure of conflicts of interest demonstrated in player selection, especially where Mr Chigumbura is put in a position to select players, and likely is prone to select those players with which he has prior connections of vested personal development interest,” added the petition.
He said local cricket fans who endured the underwhelming performances of “certain players during their playing careers” should not “witness the same individuals make equally poor decisions as selectors.”
Madondo demanded from the SRC a comprehensive, independent, impartial and public investigation into the ZC selection processes.
SRC director-general Eltah Nengomasha in her August 5 response confirmed that the Commission would conduct investigations into the matter and assured Madondo that he will be furnished with the outcome in due course. “The SRC acknowledges receipt of your petition, The SRC will conduct investigations to establish the veracity of the alleged acts in the Zimbabwe Cricket national team selections. You will be advised of the outcome in due course,” said Nengomasha.
Need a similar exercise in Football to investigate administrators, coaches and players. In particular regarding selection for COSAFA, CHAN. Why there is no football team in the confederation cup, and whether administrators do really have the interests of football at heart or are just self serving. Also investigations into the downfall of the Mighty Warriors from an administrative, political gender and bottom power politics perspective. (including bias, sexual orientation, and unprofessional conduct in coaches and playing personnel.)