The Sunday News
Mehluli Sibanda Senior Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE cricket continued with its downward spiral in 2014 with some pathetic displays on the field of play. The senior national team won just five international matches out of the 23 they played. The matches included a rare three wicket triumph over Australia in Harare, the first over the Aussies since the 1983 World Cup.
Zimbabwe’s other wins were over International Cricket Council Associates Afghanistan, Netherlands and the United Arab Emirates. However, Zimbabwe also suffered two embarrassing defeats to the Afghans in Bulawayo. They also lost to Ireland by three wickets at the ICC World Twenty20 in Bangladesh at the beginning of the year.
Zimbabwe, with players more worried about how much money they were going to make from the trip, finished second to Netherlands at the global showcase where they failed to progress through to the Super 10 stage, watched the rest of the competition back home on television.
Under-19 cricket team nightmare
Zimbabwe’s Under-19 team took part in the Under-19 Cricket World Cup in the United Arab Emirates where they finished third in their group. Their only win was over Canada whom they dismissed by six wickets. They lost by 167 runs to West Indies and by seven wickets to South Africa.
The Zimbabwean juniors, coached by Walter Chawaguta eventually finished 11th in the tournament.
Women cricket team bring cheers
The women national cricket team provided the biggest cheer for the long suffering Zimbabwean cricket fans when they finished tops at the ICC World Twenty20 Africa qualifiers in South Africa. Coached by Bulawayo based Trevor Phiri, the Zimbabwe girls have booked a place at the global qualifiers in Thailand where they have to finish in the top four to qualify for the 2016 ICC World Twenty20 in India.
Three coaches in a year
Andrew Waller, picked as successor to Englishman Alan Butcher in 2013 was sacked as coach after losing to Afghanistan in July, a team that only attained ODI status the same year he was appointed. He was replaced by another local Stephen Mangongo who was himself sacked after losing three Tests and five ODIs away to Bangladesh late into the year. Mangongo can at least brag of a win over Australia, the three wicket triumph over the Aussies the first by Zimbabwe over Australia at senior level since they last did so at the 1983 World Cup. Mangongo was relieved of his duties a few weeks before the start of the 2015 World Cup.
Sri Lanka born Australian Dave Whatmore was last Tuesday engaged to become Zimbabwe’s third coach for the year with the former Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan coach having just exactly 44 days to fine tune Zimbabwe for the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
Split captaincy
Zimbabwe during the course of the year also adopted a split captaincy; all rounder Elton Chigumbura was appointed to lead the team in limited overs while Brendan Taylor, previously captain across all the three formats was only left with the task of leadership of the Test side.
Peter Chingoka finally left
Long serving Zimbabwe Cricket chairman Peter Chingoka, at the helm since 1992 finally stepped down from his position in July, and his deputy lawyer Wilson Manase took over. It is, however, highly unlikely that Chingoka, appointed ZC Honorary Life President a few months after stepping down has completely walked away from the game.
Eyebrows raised over Bvute
Another man who turned out to be still having links to ZC is former managing director Ozias Bvute. During a meeting with the Zimbabwe Professional Cricketers Association held to resolve an impasse over franchise players’ remuneration, Bvute, who quit as a senior employee in 2012 was listed as a ZC board advisor. The development came as a shock considering that Bvute was hugely blamed for ZC’s dire financial situation because of the decisions made during the time he was the Board’s MD.
Utseya, Waller bowling queried
Zimbabwe’s star off spin bowler Prosper Utseya had to adjust his bowling action after he was banned when tests carried out at the Cardiff Metropolitan University in Wales showed that he flexed his elbow beyond the permitted 15 degrees for bowlers. Utseya’s plight started when umpires reported him for suspect bowling action during Zimbabwe’s third ODI against South Africa in Bulawayo.
Utseya worked with South African Justin Summons, changed his action to become a mystery bowler with his new action consisting of a mixture of leg spin and pace bowling. He was later cleared to bowl after further testing in India at the end of November but his off spin is still banned. This makes him in contention for a place in Zimbabwe’s final squad for the World Cup.
Utseya was not the only Zimbabwean bowler to have his action going under inspection, the other one being another off break bowler Malcolm Waller. Waller was called after the second Test against Bangladesh in Khulna when he picked up six wickets. He went for tests at the University of Pretoria in South Africa which revealed that he exceeded the limit for bowlers, leading to his suspension from bowling in international cricket.
Little cash for cricketers
Money matters which were the major talking point late 2013 to early 2014 also came to the forefront when the new season started. Franchise players expressed their displeasure with the kind of salaries being offered by ZC, dragging their feet in signing contracts for the new season. The players, with no other form of employment to turn to, eventually agreed to what ZC put on the table. Matabeleland Tuskers were even said to have earned as little as $10 as allowances for the Pro50 Championship matches which was not enough for transport to and training sessions as well as enable players to look after their families.
What makes the situation dire for the non-nationally contracted cricketers is that they are now on ZC employment for a mere five months which means they have to find other means of survival during the other seven months with the country’s domestic season having been shortened.
