ZC should retain current crop of Under-19s

Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE Cricket should keep the current crop of the country’s representative Under-19 squad intact and guard them against being lost to other countries as has become the norm over the years.

The Stephen Mangongo-coached youngsters have won many admirers with spirited performances at this year’s edition of the International Cricket Council Under-19 World Cup which concludes in Bangladesh today.

The whole world reacted in anger on 2 February when West Indies used underhand tactics to beat Zimbabwe by two runs to book their place in the quarter-finals of the youth World Cup when Keemo Paul effected what is famously known as a mankad dismissal. Zimbabwe needed only three runs off the last over to progress.

Paul ran through the bowling crease without entering his delivery stride and broke the stumps at the non-striker Richard Ngarava’s end who had his bat on the line while he was standing a couple of steps out of his crease.

While West Indies were within the laws of the game to appeal and get Ngarava out, a lot of critics condemned the actions saying it was a desperate act to win the match.

Despite that heartbreak, which saw them being booted out of the main competition for the play-offs, the youngsters captained by Brandon Mavuta were not deterred.

They went on to floor Canada by six wickets, chasing down a target of 187 runs with a massive 110 deliveries to spare.

Next up for the Zimbabwean youngsters was a battle against neighbours South Africa who had come to the tournament as defending champions but were also knocked out and demoted to the play-offs. Ngarava picked up four wickets for just 10 runs from the nine overs he sent down, two of them not costing a run with an economy rate of just 1.1 run per over while Rugare Magarira took two wickets for 11 runs from seven overs as South Africa were blown away for 91 runs in 39.5 overs. Zimbabwe eased to victory by eight wickets with 168 balls remaining to set up a plate final against Afghanistan in Cox’s Bazar last Friday.

Some of the outstanding players for Zimbabwe were batsmen Jeremy Ives, Shaun Snyder, William Mashinge, Ryan Murray, bowlers Wesley Madhevere, Magarira, Mavuta as well as Richard Ngarava.

Madhevere, a left arm off spinner is only 15 years of age which means he still qualifiers for the next edition of the Under-19 World Cup in New Zealand.

After such an admirable show by the youngsters, questions that have arisen from cricket followers in the country is what plans Zimbabwe Cricket have to ensure that the current crop of juniors are kept within the system. Zimbabwe have lost a number of players who came through the junior ranks to other countries.

All rounder Colin de Grandhomme was part of the Zimbabwe Under-19 team at the 2004 World Cup staged in Bangladesh and was lost to New Zealand, who he has represented at senior level in limited overs.

Batsman Gary Ballance represented Zimbabwe at the 2006 Under-19 World Cup held in Sri Lanka and despite turning out for Midwest Rhinos in the country’s domestic league, he chose to represent England at international level where he was already playing country cricket.

The late former national team coach Kevin Curran’s sons Samuel and Thomas Curran are making waves in the English county circuit. Sam was actually part of the England Under-19 team which competed at the World Cup.

The two boys were partly educated in Zimbabwe with Samuel turning out for the country’s Under-13.

ZC chief executive officer Wilfred Mukondiwa admitted retention of the Under-19 cricketers and all the other players was paramount to the growth of the game in the country.

“All credit must go to our Under-19s whose technical team is led by Stephen Mangongo. Their preparations were better than the previous teams. Issue of retention is not only limited to the Under-19s but all other players within the system. It is our wish that the Under-19s are drafted into the system. The board is considering giving them contracts, give them an incentive to continue playing for Zimbabwe, be it at Zimbabwe A or at senior team level,’’ said Mukondiwa.

What is also proving frustrating for ZC is the issue of the Kolpak contracts which allows international cricketers who cannot make it into the English county system as overseas players to sign deals and not be considered as foreigners.

While the arrangements are good for players, these athletes then give up their right to play international cricket for their respective national teams while the deal is still running.

Some of the cricketers Zimbabwe has lost through the Kolpak system are Sean Ervine, Heath Streak, Raymond Price, Grant Flower, Anthony Ireland and Brendan Taylor.

Mukondiwa disclosed that they were trying to find ways together with the ICC for a win win situation when Zimbabwean players take the Kolpak route.

Some of the boys who are out of school are understood to be already considering leaving the country for England and Australia while others are said to be keen to play in what is remaining of this season in the country’s domestic first class competition.

Zimbabwe has for years been known as a breeding ground for international teams in many sports such as cricket and rugby.

The challenge for ZC remains how to retain the current crop of Under-19 cricketers who arrive in the country from Bangladesh today for the success of Zimbabwe at senior level.