The Independent reports that three of Zimbabwe’s provincial boards - Manicaland, Masvingo and Midlands - have taken steps to distance themselves from last week’s no-confidence vote agains the board of Zimbabwe Cricket, claiming their representatives at the meeting had acted outside their authority. Interestingly, an anonymous source speaking for the board chairman who had attended the meeting denied that a vote of no-confidence had been taken:
However, a spokesman for the chairmen who preferred anonymity said they had not yet passed a vote of no confidence in Chingoka’s leadership, but were still compiling a comprehensive petition with their grievances and “the way forward”.
ZC power struggle takes new twist (second half of article)
CricInfo reports that Phil Simmons has taken his fight against deportation to the Zimbabwean High Court. Simmons contends that he is still legally the Zimbabwe coach & therefore has the right to remain in the country:
“All I know now is that I’m going to have to go to court. So I’ve just got to wait and see what happens then. I don’t know how long I will have to wait for the court hearing.”
However, the Zimbabwean authorities have been known to act before the courts have a chance to intervene.
Simmons to fight deportation in court
Zimbabwe A’s warm-up game against Mumbai ahead of their Duleep Trophy matches has ended in a draw, although the game was shortened to two days as a result of the Zimbabwe team’s late arrival in India.
Mumbai won the toss and elected to bat, posting 235 runs for six wickets. Graeme Cremer was the pick of the Zimbabwe A bowlers, claiming four wickets for 60 runs in 17 overs. In their innings, Zimbabwe A made 470 for six. Dion Ebrahim was 103 not out and Brendan Taylor 100, also unbeaten. The duo of middle order batsmen Terrence Duffin and Hamilton Masakadza made 88 and 66 runs respectively as Zimbabwe A batted throughout the day yesterday.
Coach Kevin Curran was pleased with the result:
“It was a good warm-up game for us. A big score like that is what we have been looking for and so I am happy that my batsmen played the way they did.”
Zim cricket team in India
The Herald today carries a denial of CricInfo’s earlier reports of a vote of no-confidence in the current ZC board, citing alleged racial bias:
The country’s cricket authorities believe CricInfo’s coverage of events in this country has clearly been biased against the board since its fallout with rebel white cricketers. The website uses a correspondent who uses a pseudonym Stephen Price who has clearly taken sides with those who are rebelling against the board’s authority.
The paper quotes a Press Release from ZC as saying:
“The point to note is that people are appointed onto the ZC board through a constitutional mechanism and can only be removed by due process, which does not include the move reported to have been taken by the provincial chairmen. Notwithstanding the fact that we have just published financial statements which were passed by an international firm of auditors without a single qualification. If there are specific items that the provincial chairmen want to be forensically audited, we are happy to immediately provide for this.”
Interestingly, The Herald’s sister paper The Chronicle has carried the CricInfo report in full.
Zimbabwe Cricket dismiss claims
Despite having been served with a deportation order on Friday, Phil Simmons remains in Zimbabwe and is continuing to dispute his dismissal from the post of national coach. According to cricket.co.za:
His lawyer Jonathan Samkange has spent his time since the notice was served on Friday trying to clarifying the sudden order for Simmons to leave the country. Simmons, a former West Indies Test allrounder, told AFP: “I’m still waiting patiently to hear how Mr. Samkange has fared with the authorities. Meanwhile I am carrying on coaching unofficially, mainly among youngsters but with some players at the highest level here.”
Zimbabwe coach in deportation limbo
CricInfo has “exclusive” news of a vote of no-confidence inthe Zimbabwe Cricket board:
“Provincial associations passed a vote of no confidence on the Peter Chingoka-led Zimbabwe Cricket board at an emergency meeting in Harare on Friday night. The meeting at the Old Hararians club was attended by chairmen of Masvingo, Manicaland, Matabeleland, Midlands, Matabeleland Country Districts, Mashonaland Country Districts and Mashonaland, as well as players’ representatives.”
Mashonaland did not participate in the vote - due to their own current problems there were two attendees present at the meeting claiming to represent the MCA - but the votes of the other provinces were unanimous. They also demanded the appointment of a forensic auditor to investigate the board’s finances amid growing reports of irregularities. If ZC follow their own rules, the vote should force a special general meeting of stakeholders within 21 days.
However, the water is muddied by the creation earlier this week of five new provinces - Mashonaland West, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland East, Matabeleland South and Matabeleland North (see this article) who would be expected to side with the current board. There has been criticism of the decision to admit these new provinces as little to no cricket is played in the regions they purport to represent.
The no-confidence motion will be communicated to Malcolm Speed, the ICC chief executive, on Monday.
Zimbabwe facing crisis as stakeholders revolt
The Sunday Mail quotes Mpumelelo (Pommie) Mbangwa being critical of Zimbabwe’s selection process, pointing to the frequent team changes as being one of the factors behind the team’s poor run of form:
“It’s silly the way selectors pick and drop players they think are the best without giving them a chance to gel or get combinations going together as a team. It is difficult out there on the pitch and each player needs a long spell in the team to bloom to his full potential.”
He also refers to the controversial subject of team wages:
“Players should be paid well as they are the ones who generate revenue from TV rights and substantial grants from the ICC. Without the players there would be no cricket to talk about, no TV rights to sell and no grants from the ICC, so it is only fair that they reap the rewards of their endeavours.”
Frequent changes to cricket squad deplored
The Herald reports that five additional provinces - Mashonaland West, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland East, Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South - have applied for affiliation with Zimbabwe Cricket, in a move that may lead to the reorganisation of the domestic game. According to Zimbabwe Cricket:
“In line with the policy of the country’s sports regulatory authority, the Sports and Recreation Commission, on the country’s political boundaries, and in keeping with its own mandate to spread the game to all sectors of the community without regard to race or creed, ZC will now work with the five provinces to facilitate their affiliation.”
Mliswa to Feature in Mainstream Cricket Administration
The Independent has several articles on the state of cricket in Zimbabwe at the moment, and they’re not happy. In particular, the motives of those currently running the game come in for heavy criticism, but the attitudes of the players don’t escape some scathing comments either.
On the people running the game:
“There are too many questions to be asked, but one answer applies to them all: the game is under siege from power-hungry narcissists who clearly are bent on accomplishing their bigoted and selfish agendas under the guise of safeguarding the future of cricket. These people, whose machinations seem to be achieving their parochial ambitions, are cowards indeed. If their real agenda is anything to safeguard the future of Zimbabwe’s cricket, why haven’t these politicians used various official platforms to register their discontent with certain policies? The irony of it is that most of these guys may have played a part in the decisions that they now find irregular. It’s the politics of convenience!”
On the players, and Phil Simmons:
“It’s their democratic right to say who they want to coach them as much as they have the right to say how much money they think they deserve for their service to the national team. But it would be very unfortunate if the players don’t realise the manipulative forces goading them into insurgence. We still believe Simmons would have been a better coach were he not fond of hobnobbing with players at nightspots, which no doubt compromised his grip on the discipline and commitment of the cricketers.”
On the recent series against Kenya:
“The question arising out of the latest defeat is whether our team is now such a package of nerves that even winning against Kenya has become an enormous task. Something has to be done before this losing culture becomes part and parcel of the cricket sides from this country.”
For all their obvious indignation, there are a number of good points raised in the articles. The question is whether anyone in a position to do anything is listening.
Personal Vendettas Must be Put Aside
Zim’s Pinnacle of Underperformance
ZC to Meet Over Crisis
Kenya again beat Zimbabwe A in their 2nd 3-day match to complete a series whitewash over the hosts ahead of their ICC Intercontinental Cup appearance. Neither side were helped by a sub-standard pitch at Harare Sports Club, although Kenya’s bowlers had the better form, with Peter Ongondo (4/31) and Lameck Onyango (3/67) being instrumental in removing Zimbabwe A in their second innings
Kenya 214 and 198; Zimbabwe A 171 and 198
Kenya win by 43 runs & win series 2-0