happiness Chikwanha
Robson Sharuko
H-Metro Editor
ZIMBABWE Cricket chairman Tavengwa Mukuhlani says the future of the game is bright in this country, despite the Chevrons’ poor results of late, and has once again rubbished claims that he is leading a racist association.
Mukuhlani said the belief that the future of the game was bright in this country was also shared by the International Cricket Council.
The ZC boss has come under considerable pressure amid intense criticism from some fans, and sensational accusations from former Sports Minister David Coltart, in which he questioned the selection process and insinuated ZC was a racist organisation.
Addressing journalists at a media conference in Harare yesterday, Mukuhlani said he believes the game has a bright future in this country despite the plane he captains having encountered severe turbulence.
He said the decision by the ICC to invest its trust in Zimbabwe hosting the 2026 ICC Under-19 World Cup and the 2027 ICC World Cup was a bold declaration of the global body’s confidence in the future of the game in the country.
Mukuhlani acknowledged that the Chevrons results had been disappointing but threw his weight behind Chevrons coach Justin Sammons and the team and said the results were a reflection of the quality of the opposition they were playing.
The only way for the team to improve, he said, was for the Chevrons to keep playing against the world’s best players rather than for them to be fooled by impressive results against lightweight opposition.
Zimbabwe will play a record 11 Test matches in a landmark year which has seen the Chevrons play in England for the first time in 22 years while also hosting the World Test Champions South Africa and New Zealand.
Sri Lanka are the next team in town.
The Tests will cost ZC about US$6 million.
“I stand with my boys,” said Mukuhlani.
“We could have chosen to play Ireland continuously and post a series win but we had to challenge ourselves in England, against South Africa and against New Zealand so that our players compete against the best in the world.
“The results have not been good, I acknowledge that fans are dejected with the losses but we have to be realistic, there is a process that is underway and I am confident in the future of cricket in this country.
“I am grateful to the senior players – Sean Williams, BT (Brendan Taylor), Sikandar Raza for helping in this transition, we have asked them to stick around to help the youngsters and this is a process whose results can’t be seen overnight.”
Mukuhlani said his board had resolved the financial issues, which used to beset the game, and cricket was now a game which can sustain itself without having to rely on loans from banks or a helping hand from the ICC.
The ZC boss said his organisation was not racist and he was very critical of Coltart, the Bulawayo mayor, who has been a fierce critic of the association for years.
“I believe that patriotism is not defined by criticising those you don’t agree with. I believe he misleads people.
“I’m the chairman of ZC because I am a product of fighting racism. We are not racists, we don’t see colour, we matched the contract Garry Balance had in county cricket, we matched the contract Dave Houghton had in county cricket.
“We brought them into our system and they are all white,
“We matched the contract which BT had in county cricket. We requested Hamilton (Masakadza) to retire, we requested Elton (Chigumbura) to retire and we requested Chamu (Chibhabha) to retire and they are all black.
“Senator Coltart has all the answers when it comes to selection, coaching and where the games should be played.
“This is not the first time that we have had to deal with Senator Coltart in this manner. Our main challenge is the talent pool and somehow Coltart believes there are some aliens out there we should bring into the team.
“Let’s look at the six top order players against New Zealand. Who would have been dropped and who would have been fielded in their place?”
Mukuhlani said the only change to Coltart’s criticism was that it now doesn’t carry accusations that the ZC leaders were thieves and corrupt.
“Our audited financial statements are not qualified and now he is not saying that we are corrupt and we are thieves.”
Online Reporter