zimcricketnews.com

Brendan Taylor has confirmed to the Melbourne Leader that, while he's keen to continue playing international cricket for Zimbabwe, he won't be doing so while the current ZC board is in place, citing a lack of any development opportunities and falling standard caused by the board's mismanagement:

"There’s too many of the wrong people running cricket in Zimbabwe ... it’s very frustrating because for the last four years there has been no development at all. There’s no first-class or league structure. We’ve got a very talented, up-and-coming side, but it will take at least five years before there’s any improvement, because there is no development taking place. I guess I’m in a fortunate situation in that I am still young and there isn’t a lot to choose from at the moment, so if we do get back, hopefully I get an opportunity again."

Taylor is currently playing for North Melbourne in the Victorian Premiere League.
Melbourne Leader - Keen, but out of Africa

The absence of up-and-coming player Alester Maregwede from recent Zimbabwean sides has raised a few eyebrows - now we may know why. Maregwede, who has been in Australia on a sporting visa, was been bailed back in March on rape charges. Over to the Sunraysia Daily:

Alester Maragwede, 26, who played last season with Mildura Settlers in the Sunraysia Cricket Association competition, has been charged with the rape of a 38-year-old woman earlier this month. Yesterday he appeared in Mildura Magistrates’ Court where he was also ordered to surrender his passport, not to contact witnesses and report to police three times a week.

Police allege the rape took place in the early hours of Friday, March 21, however further details have not been put to the court. Mr Maragwede has been in Australia on a sporting visa for the past six months. As well as playing for Mildura Settlers, he also represented Sunraysia in the Melbourne Country Week cricket tournament.

That report is dated March 2008 - I haven't yet been able to track down any more recent information on the case, but will update this article if I do.

According to CricInfo, Sean Williams has apparently told "media sources" in South Africa that he is no longer available to play for Zimbabwe. Williams, currently playing in Johannesburg, cited selection frustrations as being behind his decision - he has been practising with the team on a regular basis, he's a talented player, and yet his efforts and skills haven't been rewarded with a regular place in the national side. This is something that's baffled Zimbabwe supporters for a while now - Williams is undoubtedly one of the best players to come out of Zimbabwe since the Flower brothers, but it appears that talent counts for nothing in ZC, where politics hold sway.

Williams isn't the first player to be lost thank to ZC dubious selection policies, and he's unlikely to be the last. A few warning shots have been fired across the team's bows in recent matches - the draw against Canada and loss to Kenya - and it's clear that, unless ZC field our strongest possible side, then the future for the Zimbabwe team is bleak indeed. But we all know that ZC are going to do nothing to address the issue, as they simply don't see that there is an issue - to them, the issue is one of too many white players. And so Chingoka & company fiddle while the side's international standing crumbles. I hope they're proud.
Sean Williams turns his back on Zimbabwe

The Sunday News reports that Gary Brent has turned out for English club side Wickford, who play in the Essex Sunday League. Brent has indicated that he's with the club on a temporary basis while he gets himself settled in the UK. Wickford played their first home game of the season at the weekend, where Brent made a decent contribution, scoring 28 and taking 2/65 - not enough to prevent opponents Chelmsford from winning the match, though.

In an interview with the Zimbabwe Independent, Gary Brent hold open the prospect of further involvement with the Zimbabwe side - although not as a player - and further explains his decision to retire from international cricket:

"I didn’t want to leave when people are saying he should have retired five years ago. It’s time to move on. This is about my future. There are other important things in life other than cricket. I have two lovely kids and a whole life ahead of me."

"I would love to be a coach and hopefully coach the (Zimbabwe) team in the future as I believe I got a lot of stuff to pass on."

Brent has been particularly pleased with his form during his most recent spell with Zimbabwe, but feels that replacements for him are available in the current setup:

I feel I have played my best cricket in the last two years than I did in my first spell, which was eight or so years. I’m chuffed to have achieved that."

"There are some talented seamers coming through, in particular Jaiq (Taurai Muzarabani) and Prosper (Tsvanhu). They are great prospects and they are going to get better and better. They are nice kids as well. They’ve got good work ethics. There are other talented players but I don’t believe they have the right attitude, which is very unfortunate."

National coach Robin Brown was sorry to see his most experienced player leave, but grateful for the contribution he'd made to the side:

"It has left a huge dent. He was very useful to the team. He had some match-winning performances for us and helped out the younger guys as a senior player. We’ll miss him terribly, but there are quite a few suitable replacements waiting in the wings. Chris Mpofu has found his form again and there is the likes of Ed Rainsford and Tawanda Mupariwa in the frame."

While it's true that Brent's departure leave a hole, I'm very pleased to see that it's been on good terms - hopefully we'll see him back in a coaching role sooner rather than later.
Zimbabwe Independent - I Wanted To Leave On A High: Brent

In his latest effort to persuade ZC to allow him to return to the fold, Mark Vermeulen has reportedly offered to help meet the costs of rebuilding the Zimbabwe Cricket Academy. The Academy's buildings were burnt down by Vermeulen in an arson attack - he was later cleared of responsibility due to mental illness, which he suffered partly as a result of head injuries received while playing for Zimbabwe.

Since his acquittal, Vermeulen has made no secret of his desire to return to the national side, but despite being one of the best players in this season's National League (where he captained Old Hararians), there's been no call-up to any ZC-sanctioned side. Speaking to the Zimbabwe Independent, Vermeulen said:

"I’m jobless at the moment, the only job I can do is playing cricket. I’ve kindly asked ZC to give me my job back, then I will give a percentage of my earning towards rebuilding of the Academy."

It appears Westerns were willing to allow him to play for them this season, but the required approval from ZC wasn't forthcoming.
Zimbabwe Independent - Vermeulen Offers To Rebuild Academy

With my Ireland hat on, I can't really compain too much about this one - the Sunday Mail reports that Ryan Ervine, younger brother of Sean, has signed for Irish side Carrickfergus, where he's also been appointed assistant coach. According to the club,

"The club is also delighted to announce that we have secured the services of 19-year-old Zimbabwean all-rounder, Ryan Ervine, for the 2008 season. Ryan, youngest brother of Zimbabwean international star, Sean, is Irish-qualified and will be hoping to impress Irish selectors during his time with Carrickfergus in the NCU Premier League. Ryan will work alongside Colin (Birch) as the club's assistant professional/coach in the coming season."

The statement that Ryan is hoping to impress Irish selectors would also indicate he's turned his back on any possible career with Zimbabwe - although no doubt having been overlooked by Zim's selectors despite good form recently helped make that decision a little easier.
Carrickfergus Cricket Club - Carrickfergus Signs Birch and Ervine for 2008

The Indian Cricket League now has two ex-Zimbabwean players, after Murray Goodwin joined Heath Streak in the breakaway competition. The next run of the competition takes place between March and April. Both men have yet to be assigned to teams.
The Argus - Goodwin signs for Indian Cricket League

Former Zimbabwe player Heath Streak has signed for the breakaway Indian Cricket League, according to a report in the Sunday News. The ICL is not recognised by the ICC, and following a resolution taken at last week's Chief Executive's Panel meeting taking part in the league leaves a player ineligible for selection by any ICC member sides - not that Streak seems to mind:

“I still have ambitions to play for Zimbabwe but if playing in the ICL means I have ended my international career I do not really care.”

No news yet on which ICL side Streak has been signed by.
Sunday News - Streak signs up for Indian rebel league

In an interview with the Wisden Cricketer (not available online but reported in the Zimbabwe Independent, Zim legend Andy Flower admits that both sides should carry some blame for the internal disputes that nearly wrecked the game in the country. Looking back to the original disputes over selection the triggered the first player strike, Flower says:

"There was a lot of blame on both sides. (Cricket) was a sport run by the whites and not enough black cricketers got exposure. But when Peter Chingoka got involved, the way he and his fellow administrators tried to impose selection, it got the hackles up of the whites."

"The white players and administrators — and I include myself — should have been more willing to communicate openly and attempt a serious and mature integration of more black cricketers. But the black administrators could have communicated a hell of a lot better and more honestly. It’s really sad that we didn’t find a better compromise and I take responsibility for that. But the administrators should take more of the responsibility as they were older and more experienced."

Truth be told, Flower was hardly a spring chicken at the time either, and was certainly mature enough to know the meaning of the word "compromise". Unfortunately, what's past is past, and we're still dealing with the results of both sides' failure to communicate properly. I just hope that failure doesn't yet turn out to have marked the beginning of the end for Zimbabwe cricket.
Zimbabwe Independent - Flower admits guilt over Zimbabwe row