CricInfo reports that some of the provinces “dissolved” by ZC as part of their restructuring may opt to continue outside the ZC structure, with a move in the courts to challenge ZC’s actions also being considered. Mashonaland Country Districts chairman, Charlie Robertson:
“”We will still continue as a province with or without ZC. What happened is dictatorship at its worst. Up to now nothing has transpired with regards to the constitution. There has been zero communication from ZC. No one has been consulted. We are still the legitimate stakeholders in Zimbabwe cricket. If they are not talking to us, then who is drafting the constitution? What happened shows that no one is prepared to adhere to the constitution. The SRC letter last year shows that the commission encouraged ZC to decentralize but in line with the constitution. All this has been ignored. This is shocking behaviour. The laws of the constitution and special general meeting have been flouted. Its well-documented that Chingoka is quite happy to ignore that constitution.”
Some within the new structure appear to be unhappy with the way the resturcturing was carried out, as well, including Elvis Sembezeya of the Mashonaland Cricket Association:
“The issue of affiliation has always been on the cards. But it comes down to the reasons why we are doing this at the end of the day. What the constitution says must carry the day. I’m not sure if what happened was constitutional. And if there is any constitutional amendment happening, it must involve the old provinces because they are they are still the biggest stakeholders. How can you make a constitution when you sideline the oldest provinces? It’s not surprising anyway that ZC has chosen that path. They have always done things without following the constitution. But I tell you if someone decide to fight against the legality of the decision, ZC will be found wanting.”
Zimbabwe stakeholders fight abolition of provinces
The Independent reports that ZC are looking to bring teams from Pakistan, India and Bangladesh to play in Zimbabwe’s first-class domestic competition in an effort to give local players more experience and improve the standard of cricket on display in the competition:
“ZC managing director Ozias Bvute could not be drawn into discussing the foreign clubs issue, only saying the union had tabled major plans to revive the local game. He said ZC envisaged resuscitating the national league, while the recently affiliated provinces will play in a developmental league.”
Who would be funding the visiting teams remains to be seen. The idea isn’t a new one - India’s Duleep Trophy regularly includes a foreign team (Zimbabwe A played in the 2005 tournament) - so on paper the idea seems a good one, as does the plan for the new provinces to play in a lower “development” league, as one of the objections to the new provinces was that they would spread the player base too thinly at the top level. The devil is in the details, however, so I’ll wait to see if the plans come to fruition and, if so, how it all works in practice…
ZC lure foreign clubs for cricket league
BBC Sport reports that Pakistan are keen to postpone Zimbabwe’s scheduled visit later this year, citing lack of sponsors’ interest in a curtailed 3-ODI series. Pakistan have suggested 2008 as an alternative date, by which time Zimbabwe will hopefully be playing test cricket again. The Independent reports that Zimbabwe will also now play a series of 4-day matches against Pakistan A in February 2007, in the run-up to their scheduled test return.
Pakistan seek series postponement
ZC lure foreign clubs for cricket league
The preliminary schedule for Bangladesh’s tour of Zimbabwe has been released. As currently planned, 5 one-day games will be played in the space of 8 days, although it’s known that neither ZC nor the Bangladesh Cricket Board are entirely happy with the plans - ZC would prefer to delay the series to September, when their UK-based players (8 of the squad that toured the West Indies) will be more readily available, while Bangladesh, who insisted on the July / August dates, are unhappy with the cramped schedule. As a result, don’t be hugely surprised if this changes:
29 July 2006 1st ODI Bulawayo
30 July 2006 2nd ODI Bulawayo
2 August 2006 3rd ODI Harare
4 August 2006 4th ODI Harare
5 August 2006 5th ODI Harare
Bermuda put up more of a fight in Saturday’s Tri-Series final against Zimbabwe, but it still wasn’t enough to prevent Zim from lifting the title. Having at one point reached a healthy 200/2 Zimbabwe should have reached a higher total than they did, but the departure of Vusi Sibanda for 116 triggered something of a batting collapse, leaving the team to finally reach 259/7 for their 50 overs.
In reply, Bermuda seemed to be following Zimbabwe’s gameplan from the West Indies series and never really seemed to be trying to chase the total that had been set for them, instead being content to try and bat out the innings. Zim’s bowlers put on another good display to prevent that, though, with Tawanda Mupariwa taking 3/19 and Blessing Mawhire 3/29 on the way to a deserved Zimbabwe win. Next up: Bangladesh, who at Zimbabwe’s current strength will be more of a challenge - the last time the two teams met (in Bangladesh, 2005, when Zim had a considerably stronger team than they do now), the Asian team won the ODI series 3-2…
Zimbabwe 259/7 (50 ovrs); Bermuda 176 (47.2 ovrs)
Zimbabwe win by 83 runs & win series
No surprise with part one of this post, as Zimbabwe Cricket’s interim board have swept away the existing provincial structure and replaced it, as instruced by the SRC, with a new 10-province structure that reflects Zimbabwe’s administrative regions. The new provinces are: Harare Metropole, Bulawayo Metropole, Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland West, Manicaland, Masvingo and Midlands. ZC will appoint interim committees to run the new entities pending the drawing up of new constitutions and fresh elections, effectively giving Chingoka et al an opportunity to remove anyone opposed to them from office.
At the same time, the Sports and Recreation Commission have extended the interim board’s term of office by two months, to 31st August. Joseph Muchechetere, the SRC’s acting chief executive, has made it clear that no further extension will be granted - but already stakeholders in Zimbabwe’s cricket structure have made it clear they will not recognise the interim board past their original 6-month mandate. And so the stage is set for yet another dispute…
ZC board given two more months (The Independent)
Zimbabwe managed to step up a gear in the final group match of the ICC Tri-Series in Trinidad, amassing 338 runs - just 2 short of Zimbabwe’s highest 1-day total (340 against Namibia in CWC2003) - on their way to an emphatic 194-run win. Just the sort of warm-up the Zimbabweans will have wanted ahead of Saturday’s final.
Apart from Piet Rinke, who once again failed to live up to his opening-batsman billing (caught behind for 6), all of Zimbabwe’s batsmen made significant contributions, with Brendan Taylor’s 98 and Vusi Sibanda’s 78 being the pick of the bunch. Come the Bermudan innings, while Zimbabwe weren’t able to bowl them out they were able to restrict the run-rate, with Bermuda reaching just 144 from their 50 overs. Blessing Mawhire (2/24) and Anthony Ireland (2/26) led the bowling figures.
After the series defeat by the West Indies, this series will no doubt go some way to lift the spirits of the Zimbabwean team, even though it was against “lower-class” opposition. It also points out that, although Zim may be bottom of the Full Member pile, they’re still some way beyond the Associate opposition, and an enforced drop down to that level, as some would no doubt suggest as being appropriate, would be unlikely to help Zimbabwe raise their standards.
Zimbabwe 338/7 (50 ovrs); Bermuda 144/7 (50 ovrs)
Zimbabwe win by 194 runs
Bermuda saw off Canada in a rain-affected match on Wednesday to secure their place in Saturday’s tri-series final, where they’ll meet Zimbabwe. The two also meet in the final round-robin match on Thursday, which should give them a chance to size each other up before the final.
Canada once again suffered from batting woes, having been reduced to 55/5 at one point before the tail-enders did enough to avoid another 2-figure total. Bermuda were shaky at one point themsevles, but after the second rain interruption came back to finish off the game with comparitive ease. That said, based on these performances, one wouldn’t expect Zimbabwe to have a problem clinching a much-needed series win - but stranger things have happened…
Canada 157/9 (49 ovrs); Bermuda 153/7 (42.3 ovrs - target 150 from 44 overs)
Bermuda win by 3 wickets (D/L method)
There’s a headline I don’t get to use very often. 
Zimbabwe won the opening match of the ICC Tri-Series in Trinidad by a convincing 143 runs on Tuesday, with Piet Rinke putting his woeful series against West Indies behind him by knocking a rapid 72 off 62 balls, earning himself the man-of-the-match award in the process. While there was a typically Zimbabwean batting collapse further down the order, Rinke, Chibhabha, Taylor and Chigumbura between them did enough to make sure Zim posted a defensible total.
Zim’s field performance made sure the total was academic, however, as two run-outs in the first two overs saw Canada get off to the worst possible start, with Mupariwa and Mawhire also contributing to leave the Canadians at 4/4 in the 5th over. The middle order tried to restore some respectability to the score, but with the best of the bunch only managing to score 16, it wasn’t really a contest.
A win by Bermuda in the second match on Wednesday will put Zimbabwe’s place in the series final beyond doubt, but with a bonus point already under their wings that spot should already be secure. If winning is a habit, then this outing will do Zim’s youngsters a world of good.
Zimbabwe 218/8 (50 ovrs); Canada 75 (28.5 ovrs)
Zimbabwe win by 143 runs
CricInfo reports that Zimbabwe have withdrawn from the tri-series against Kenya and Scotland that had been proposed for January, citing lack of funds & other fixtures (Zim travel to Bangladesh in December, and according to the CricInfo report will be hosting Bermuda and Canada in January). The proposed series had caused some political problems for Scotland, so on one level they’ll be pleased at the dilemma being resolved in this way - although on another level they’ll be missing the opportunity to possibly take the scalp of a Test nation…
Scotland spared politically-sensitive meeting