adminZIMBABWE Cricket could have lost out on potential financial revenue during the risky tour to Pakistan as the visit to the Asian country remains shrouded in mystery.
The tour to Pakistan went ahead in May despite a directive from the Government as well as the Sports and Recreation Commission for the Zimbabwe cricket team not to embark on it. Indications are that the players who went to Pakistan were paid as much as $12 500 each but no money came directly into the ZC coffers.
Sources claimed what further raises suspicion about the tour is that Wilfred Mukondiwa, the ZC chief executive officer, who was supposed to sign off the Memorandum of Understanding was not involved in the whole process. Mukondiwa last Friday said the tour was organised at a higher level by then chairman Wilson Manase. Alistair Campbell, who recently stepped down as director of international cricket and commercial affairs was also heavily involved.
There are unconfirmed reports that one of the agreements for the tour to proceed was that ZC and the PCB would share gate takings for the matches which were characterised by huge crowds.
Mukondiwa said the Pakistan Cricket Board paid the players match fees but was not aware of any other financial transactions which took place during that tour.
“They (PCB) paid all players match fees. I was aware that there were plans to tour Pakistan but I was not involved. The tour involved the people who were at the top, the chairman. As far as I know no money came to Zimbabwe Cricket. I don’t have those details,’’ said Mukondiwa.
A source at ZC said it was strange that the MoU for the Pakistan tour was never signed off by Mukondiwa who is the most senior member of the secretariat at ZC.
“The MoU must have details of the tour and its signed by the CEO but it was never given to him,’’ said the authoritative source.
Manase, who was defeated by Tavengwa Mukuhlani for the ZC chairmanship in August, faces a life ban from cricket imposed by the SRC for unilaterally making the call for the tour to Pakistan to proceed. He has already appeared before an SRC disciplinary committee whose decision has not yet been made public. Sources familiar with the disciplinary proceedings have told this publication that Manase pleaded guilty to the charge and had he won the election he would have been asked to relinquish his position.
Zimbabwe became the first International Cricket Council Full Member to tour the civil war ravaged Pakistan since 2009 when the Sri Lankan team came under gun attack from extremists.
Manase, who has been portrayed by former Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture Minister David Coltart as a sound administrator did not bother responding to questions sent to him via electronic mail as far back as Monday last week. Campbell also did not give responses to questions e-mailed to him last Monday.
Online Reporter