Zimbabwe's ongoing cash crunch is threatening to disrupt - if not entirely wipe out - their forthcoming international season. Pakistan are due to visit Zimbabwe for an all-format tour over July-August but there is a distinct possibility it may not go ahead at all.
Before that visit, Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) have been in negotiations to arrange a limited-overs tri-series with Australia and Pakistan in June, but the status of that is also currently in doubt.
"Finances may not allow the [Pakistan] series to go ahead because we don't get a lot from our TV contract, and the series ends up - the production costs result in huge losses," Faisal Hasnain, ZC's managing director told ESPNcricinfo. "Given our current cash situation, in order to balance our books, we may actually have to either renegotiate the format or we may have to postpone it until such time as we are ready to play."
Hasnain was in Lahore recently to discuss the matter with PCB officials, who have indicated that they will support whatever decision ZC makes. As it stands, Pakistan are supposed to play two Tests, three ODIs and two T20s on the tour. No side has played more internationals in Zimbabwe since the start of 2011 than Pakistan; they have toured thrice since then, twice for all-format visits and once for a limited-overs only tour.
On the current FTP, Australia are scheduled to tour Zimbabwe in June for a bilateral series as well - including one Test - but it appears that commitment has transformed into the tri-series. But even that is hostage to the financial difficulties of the board.
"We are looking at all of that to see whether we have the tri-series only, the Pakistan series only, or we change the format," Hasnain said. "We are just working through, considering our options at the moment."
ZC are expected to take a final call on the schedule within the next 2-3 weeks.
But if the commitments do not materialise, it will not be a surprise - scaling back on home commitments is something ZC first flagged late last year. So acute has the crisis become, that ZC has postponed its domestic cricket while also having to delay salary payments to board staff and players.
It could be that the only top-quality cricket fans will be able to see in the country are the 2019 World Cup qualifiers, which are due to begin from March 4. The three-week tournament will be played across four venues in Bulawayo and Harare. The qualifiers being an ICC event, remain unaffected by ZC's cash troubles.
I think we all knew this would happen.
But its still bad news
So we're saying that the tv deal we struck is not worth the paper it is written on? Perhaps we need to cancel that contract and start a new one.
Where is the sports ministry as well? This is the only sport that Zim can actually participate on an international level on a regular basis. They need to start reinvesting some of the money the former ministry stole.
So we're saying that the tv deal we struck is not worth the paper it is written on? Perhaps we need to cancel that contract and start a new one.
Where is the sports ministry as well? This is the only sport that Zim can actually participate on an international level on a regular basis. They need to start reinvesting some of the money the former ministry stole.
The big problem is that the games aren't broadcast in Zimbabwe which in theory should be the biggest market, whilst the BCCI, ECB & CA get millions for the rights to broadcast their matches ZC gets zero dollars.
The only cash they get is if another country would like to broadcast the matches.
When was the last time a Zimbabwe home game was shown on TV in Zimbabwe ?
So we're saying that the tv deal we struck is not worth the paper it is written on? Perhaps we need to cancel that contract and start a new one.
Where is the sports ministry as well? This is the only sport that Zim can actually participate on an international level on a regular basis. They need to start reinvesting some of the money the former ministry stole.
The big problem is that the games aren't broadcast in Zimbabwe which in theory should be the biggest market, whilst the BCCI, ECB & CA get millions for the rights to broadcast their matches ZC gets zero dollars.
The only cash they get is if another country would like to broadcast the matches.
When was the last time a Zimbabwe home game was shown on TV in Zimbabwe ?
Who made these deals and how did they get away with it?
I remember when I was a kid and Zim would be playing, ZTV would end showing some Chinese monkey show. My brother even called a couple times trying to figure out what the go is, and they would be like, "we need to cater for everyone"
If we are not getting money from teams touring, then are we making anything from touring other countries, because perhaps then we need to be arranging to play thee matches elsewhere.
Are the qualifiers being televised locally, I wonder?
The “crowds” packing in to watch the upcoming cricket fest will show the level of interest there is in cricket here
The 1970’s Chinese Karate movies is about the best thing on TV. We have to pay an annual TV license for the privilege of watching it
No documentaries praising ZANU-PFs agrarian reforms?
Neil Johnson, Alistair Campbell, Murray Goodwin, Andy Flower (w), Grant Flower, Dave Houghton, Guy Whittall, Heath Streak (c), Andy Blignaut, Ray Price, Eddo Brandes
We have to pay an annual TV license for the privilege of watching it 