Online Reporter
Robson Sharuko in JOHANNESBURG
ZIMBABWE Cricket chairman Tavengwa Mukuhlani says the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027 gives South Africa a golden opportunity to repair the damage which has been inflicted on the country’s profile by the xenophobic madness.
South Africa will host the global cricket showcase jointly with Zimbabwe and Namibia next year.
Last night, the ICC and representatives of the three host nations attended an event in Sandton. Which officially marked the countdown to that World Cup.
The Zimbabwean delegation, which included the ZC leadership, was led by Sports Minister Anselem Sanyatwe.
Last night’s event was held under the shadow of the xenophobic attacks, targeting fellow Africans, which have been happening in this country in recent months.
Ahead of last night’s event, the ZC leaders met their Cricket South Africa counterparts and Mukuhlani spoke about the xenophobic attacks.
“I said it this morning that this World Cup is a window of opportunity for South Africa to exonerate themselves from the negative narrative that is within Africa that they are Afrophobic, the xenophobic attacks that we are seeing,” said Mukuhlani.
“They must use this World Cup, which is in Africa, (to show) that we are not like that.
“It’s an opportunity for them to show that they can collaborate with everyone and I believe that the relationship should grow from strength to strength.”
Mukuhlani said while the FIFA World Cup showed clear divisions, with some African fans supporting Mexico when they played Bafana Bafana, the Cricket World Cup should heal those wounds.
He said the Cricket South Africa leaders have been making the right moves.
They have done considerable work, said Mukuhlani, not only to help Zimbabwe Cricket but also to help the game across the continent.
“Prior to 2023, South Africa had not played us in eight years, India had played us every other year,” he said.
“Yet India has two months of IPL, with all their stars, and they play everyone in the world, including South Africa, but still they had time to play us.
“It’s true that partnership has not been working well.
“Fast forward to today, we have an MOU with Cricket SA that covers women’s cricket, that covers the Proteas that they come every second year, that covers the Under-19.
“That relationship is now sound and healthy and I must acknowledge the work that the current administration at Cricket South Africa have done to try and normalise that relationship.
“We are not seeing it just between Zimbabwe and South Africa, we are seeing it even at Africa Cricket, South Africa is now a very active member.
“From the 26th of August, we have a tri series in Namibia between South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe.
“Part of the proceeds from that tri series are going towards the Africa Cricket Association so that we help the other twenty members within ACA, that goes to show how much South Africa has moved in terms of being helpful for the cricket cause for Zimbabwe and the others on the continent.”
The same spirit should be used, he said, to help repair some of the damage which has been inflicted by the xenophobia madness and the Cricket World Cup presents a golden opportunity for them.
South Africa will host the majority of the games, Zimbabwe will host ten of those games while Namibia will also host three matches.
Mukuhlani said Zimbabwe has demonstrated to the ICC that it is a capable host of such major events.
“When you look at it from where Zimbabwe Cricket was in 2015 to now, to get to host the main World Cup, it’s a sign that we have come of age, we have turned the corner.
“For the country itself, it also speaks to the positive vibe that is coming from the world that, as much as we still have some traits of negativity, the fact that a global showcase like the World Cup is coming to Zimbabwe, and the usual choruses from the West are looking forward to come to Zimbabwe, I think it’s a big step for the country.
“For us, as ZC, it sets us at a new level where we are looking at the next ten years to say we have had the Under-19 World Cup and now we have the Men’s World Cup, we are now looking forward to hosting other major events.”
He added:
“It speaks volumes of the state of our cricket, I will be the first to admit that there is a lot of work that is still to be done, but our one-off Test in England, with England, even the results showed us that we have a product.
“We have the players, young Bennett scoring his maiden Test century there, I think we are in good space as a sport, we are in good space as an organisation but, most importantly, it’s the level of collaboration that we are getting from our counterparts.
“When we went to England, the ECB (England Cricket Board) paid about £250,000 towards that Test, they catered for some of the costs for that Test.
“Now, from refusing to play us to a point where they are now paying for us to play them, it shows how much we have gone in terms of trying to get a good relationship with our counterparts.”
He said the results on the pitch have also been positive, showing progress, and a lot is also being invested into infrastructure.
“If you look from an infrastructure point of view, we are putting a first-class structure in Dangamvura, we are doing the same in Gweru, we have done the same in Masvingo, we have done the same at Esigodini and the main one at Victoria Fall.
“The World Cup brings that level of infrastructure development. On the field of play, we have ten games that will come to Zimbabwe, it’s the lasting memories that our cricket fans will have after the games.
“The cricket fraternity in Zimbabwe has an opportunity to see the world’s best players at their doorstep and, for our players, playing at that level is different and playing in such a tournament at home is different.”
