Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE Cricket (ZC) director of cricket, Hamilton Masakadza has said they fully understand India’s decision to put on hold their scheduled visit to the country in August.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India announced that the Indian cricket team will not be coming to Zimbabwe for three One Day Internationals as scheduled because of the threat posed by the coronavirus (Covid-19).
Masakadza said they appreciate the concerns since Covid-19 is still a worldwide concern with India also grappling with the global pandemic, with over 300 000 cases in the Asian country.
“Obviously, it’s not ideal because it’s the only cricket we would have had at this time, it is understandable, the tour will be rescheduled to later on this year, the virus is still spreading worldwide,’’ Masakadza said.
With cricket being one of the sports allowed to resume training since it is classified as low risk, cricketers will recommence fine tuning tomorrow. ZC had 40 individuals, players and support staff having been tested for Covid-19.
“Everything is in place for players to resume training, players training in smaller groups. We have had 40 people, the players and support staff tested for Covid-19. For now, they will be doing running and cardio work, that is physical training for the first few weeks then we move to the actual training,’’ said Masakadza.
The former Chevrons skipper stated that since they are not allowed matches for now, they will re-apply to the Sports ad Recreation Commission to be given permission to have a men’s National League for clubs as well as women’s domestic competition during the winter period. ZC have kept alive plans to have Afghanistan visit the country in July for five Twenty20 Internationals once the country’s lockdown regulations are eased.
“We have kept the Afghanistan tour alive, we will have it soon as its feasible for them to come, once lockdowns have been lifted in both countries. We are looking at various options, we have kept the tour alive. We are still in discussion with our counterparts,’’ said ZC acting managing director Givemore Makoni.
Meanwhile, the Bulawayo cricketing family has shown compassion towards the ailing Old Mutual Heath Streak Academy former head groundsman Blessing Mutumwapavi who is now incapacitated after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease.
Last Friday, Matabeleland Cricket Umpires and Scorers Association members visited Mutumwapavi at the academy’s servants’ quarters where he is residing. They took foodstuffs for him and his family. Another group that trains at the academy also made a special donation to the former curator and chose to remain anonymous.
An initiative led by the Bulawayo Metropolitan Cricket Association leadership is gathering pace with donations being dropped off at Queens Sports Club and contributions will be presented to Mutumwapavi soon. The Bulawayo cricket community reacted to a story printed by this publication which brought to light Mutumwapavi’s plight since he is now paralysed and was recently laid off by the academy on medical grounds.
Meanwhile, Old Mutual Heath Streak Cricket Academy Trust Chief Executive and Executive Director Joseph Rego said his organisation was taking care of its workers.
“Ever since our inception eight years ago we have always shared a very cordial family kind of relationship with our staff and not once have they ever complained that their living conditions are squalid. The Academy used to employ three groundsmen and each of them was offered a room at the Mac Donald Club staff quarters free of cost. The fourth groundsman living at the staff quarters was a Mac Donald Club senior groundsman Ferai Musariwa who has been serving Mac Donald Club for the past 20 years. One of our groundsman Nkosiyazi Ncube has his family living in their rural home and occupies a single room at the quarters and the other groundsman, a young bachelor Tafadzwa Musariwa was occupying a single room.
“Blessing Mutumwapavi was the only groundsman who used to occupy two rooms at the staff quarters. The rooms were not meant for Blessing’s family of eight members including his mother. On various occasions he informed us that his family was temporarily residing at the staff quarters and his rural home was being refurbished for his family members in his home province Gutu, Masvingo.”
He said in addition to free accommodation the Academy and Mac Donald Club has been paying for electricity, water and council for their staff members.
“On humanitarian grounds the Academy has been paying Blessing a salary, free accommodation, at times ambulance and medical expenses, towards his electricity, water and council and his monthly medical aid fees for a year even though he has been unable to serve the Academy due to his illness.”
He said Mutumwapavi was paid a final payout of ZW$29 762,24. However, documents in the possession of this publication show he was paid $3 983,18.
Rego said the money from venue rentals was not enough to sustain the operations of the Academy.
“About 98% of the signage boards at the Academy do not fetch any rental and have been offered to sponsors who have generously donated in kind and material to the Academy towards their development agenda.”