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Mangongo unhappy with Under-19 World Cup scheduling

Posted: Thu Jan 18, 2018 12:49 pm
by CrimsonAvenger
Not shying away from making some very meaningful points there: https://www.wisdenindia.com/cricket-new ... ing/288346

Clearly the entire scheduling is focused on televising India matches more than creating level playing field.
Zimbabwe and India will clash in their last Group B game in Tauranga on Friday (January 19), having had contrasting schedules over the previous two days.

While Zimbabwe played a game against Australia in Christchurch on Wednesday before traveling to Tauranga the next day and soon had a practice session at The Bay Oval ahead of their must-win clash.

India, meanwhile, enjoyed plenty of rest over the last few days. They took only a little more than three hours to beat Papua New Guinea on Tuesday and took time off from the game on Wednesday, when they went to Mount Maunganui, watched India beat Japan in the four-nation hockey tournament in Tauranga, and also visited The Bay Oval to watch a bit of the Windies v South Africa clash.

“It is a very tough scenario,” said Stephen Mangongo, Zimbabwe Under-19’s coach. “We play a game, we recover, we travel, we have team meetings and before you know it, we are at a game next day.”

Terming the situation ‘unfair’, Mangongo called for a level playing field in such world events, saying no team is bigger than the other. He also hoped to raise the scheduling issue with the concerned authorities once the tournament ended.

“Definitely we believe that in a tournament of this nature, there should be an even playing field,” he said. “If it’s a two-day break, it should be a two-day break for everyone. If it’s a three-day break, it should be a three-day break for everyone. In our instance, we played yesterday, we traveled the next day, the same traveling day is the training day, and the next day is the match.

“We believe it’s unfair, absolutely unfair. India have been resting, they’re ready. We would definitely raise that with our MD, our board, and when they go back to ICC, these anomalies have to be sorted out. There’s no team which is bigger than the other. We’re all Under-19 youth cricketers and we must be treated equally.”

All of India’s group matches have been scheduled for Tauranga, but they aren’t the only team to have enjoyed the luxury. England, Ireland, Kenya, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Sri Lanka too have had the good fortune of playing each of their respective group matches in one city.

Apart from Zimbabwe, only Namibia and Canada have had to play two matches on alternate days in different cities.

However, Zimbabwe have also been fortunate to have had a three-day gap between their first two games, both being played in Christchurch. In fact, this was the first time Zimbabwe traveled out of Christchurch having played both their warm-up games in the city as well.

Re: Mangongo unhappy with Under-19 World Cup scheduling

Posted: Thu Jan 18, 2018 12:56 pm
by Black Mamba
Here comes the first excuse :) though school cricket is very much poor and ZC still have no policy to grow the game.


Working at the under 19 level since 2014 its Second time coaching tenure in 2018 Under 19 World Cup, can't set up a competative team for the youth world cup. Under 19 team of a test playing nation doesn't need any coaching staffs to defeat team like PNG, Namibia, Kenya etc.

Re: Mangongo unhappy with Under-19 World Cup scheduling

Posted: Thu Jan 18, 2018 7:34 pm
by jaybro
Fair point but I doubt we would beat India if we had an extra few days rest

Re: Mangongo unhappy with Under-19 World Cup scheduling

Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2018 9:56 am
by Conant
He raises a point and it should be addressed without telling him he couldn't beat India if he had a year to prepare.

Re: Mangongo unhappy with Under-19 World Cup scheduling

Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2018 1:49 pm
by CrimsonAvenger
Yeah, irrespective of where we stand, the point is very valid. It is not just squeezing more matches from some teams while others relax, it is also about the travel that comes with it as Mangongo points out. They can hardly get a full day's preparation in. And he has pointed this out as a general problem for lesser teams and has definitely not used it as an excuse.

The spineless ICC won't do anything about it but it is good that he made that point.

Re: Mangongo unhappy with Under-19 World Cup scheduling

Posted: Sat Jan 20, 2018 4:07 am
by jaybro
Conant wrote:
Fri Jan 19, 2018 9:56 am
He raises a point and it should be addressed without telling him he couldn't beat India if he had a year to prepare.
It's almost impossible to make all scheduling fair at events like this, this was not the reason we lost to India Mangongo is just trying to defer the blame from himself and his players.

It's actually a good trait in a coach to able to defer blame and attention from his players

We really got screwed by the sides we got drawn with, Australia & India probably the two best sides

Re: Mangongo unhappy with Under-19 World Cup scheduling

Posted: Sat Jan 20, 2018 4:19 am
by Black Mamba
ZC can bring Andy Flower, Simmons, Whatmore anybody as coach, but the results will remain same, same things goes to national side even they can change the captaincy the results will be same against top nation. Sri Lankan side is facing one of the toughest time now, skill level of the players have become equivalent or below standard in comparison with Zimbabwe, but they have done a positive move in appointing someone who is good enough in finding talent, within a year or two he will make Sri Lanka rise and SLC is much active in handling talents, when it comes to ZC,
Streak - Taibu combination has brought some success, their level of working and aims looks great, but the main thing is ZC administration totally inactive, have long term financial problems and follows negetive views, and handling talented youths is worst.

SL government has an impact in their cricket, new president of Zimbabwe still haven't declared any measure to boost cricket.