#ZCBOARD MUST GO

[kudet]

https://www.thestandard.co.zw/2019/07/0 ... cision-zc/
BY DANIEL NHAKANISO

FORMER Zimbabwe captain Tatenda Taibu (pictured) has thrown his weight behind the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC)’s recent suspension of the Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) board led by Tavengwa Mukuhlani and the installation of an interim one led by veteran cricket administrator David Ellman-Brown.

The entire ZC board was suspended by the SRC for defying its directive to shelve a scheduled AGM on June 14, amid allegations of electoral irregularities in the lead-up to the polls and misappropriation of funds.

Acting managing director Givemore Makoni was also affected by the suspensions.

Taibu — who played 28 Tests, 150 One-Day Internationals and 17 Twenty20s for Zimbabwe before going on to serve as convener of selectors — said he was in full

support of the SRC’s decision.

The 36-year-old England-based former wicketkeeper/batsman said the domestic game had continued to nosedive under previous ZC boards amid long-held suspicions

of corruption and mismanagement of funds, which he said had negatively impacted the national teams’ performances on the field.

“I totally support the decision by the SRC to suspend the Tavengwa Mukuhlani-led ZC board. Something had to be done and I totally back the SRC on this,” Taibu

told StandardSport in an exclusive interview yesterday.

Taibu said the problems bedevilling Zimbabwe cricket were highlighted by the national team’s shock 2-0 series defeat to Holland in a recent one-day series.

Currently Zimbabwe are trailing the three-match series against Ireland 2-0 with one match remaining today at the Civil Service Cricket Club in Belfast.

Last year, Zimbabwe narrowly failed to qualify for the World Cup, losing to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) after which their head coach, captain and chief

selector were summarily sacked by the now ousted board.

“I believe that our cricket has been nosediving for a very long time. I mean look at the state of our affairs now. Look at the scores on the cricket pitch, look at the results against teams we are supposed to be thrashing, but we are now losing, not only a game but we are now losing the series against Holland
Ireland,” Taibu said.

“That’s a good enough indication that our cricket has been nosediving. This is not aimed at the players whatsoever because I know what the structures are like

and I know a lot of the things that happen off the field do affect them. So a lot of people may think the players go out on the field and they give those

performances, but there’s a lot that goes with that. The players being on the field is your final product, it’s your final tale of how the whole organisation

is, so it just gives the indication of how our organisation is the moment,” he said.

Taibu’s support of the move by SRC comes at a time when the world cricket governing body, International Cricket Council (ICC), is scheduled to meet in London

on July 15 to determine if action by the SRC was in contravention of its rules prohibiting political interference in its members.

If deemed government interference, Zimbabwe’s ICC membership could be suspended.

This would result in the men and women’s teams that are due to take part in the ICC Twenty20 World Cup qualifiers later in the year being barred although their

programme of fixtures would continue, because of a desire for players not to suffer from administrative problems.

In recent years, Nepal and the United States have been suspended but permitted to continue playing while the ICC was in temporary control of the sport.

Taibu said regardless of what the ICC decides, something had to be done to arrest the continued slide of the domestic game instead of adopting a wait-and-see

attitude.

“Surely something had to be done, whatever that something is, something had to be done and the something that was done I totally am for it and I back the SRC

100% on their decision to suspend the board. Yes, people are talking about different outcomes that may come from such a stand but just not doing anything was

not going to get our cricket back, but doing something was the way to go. I’m sure you’ve heard a statement that says you can’t expect to do the same mistake

twice and expect different results. That is the height of foolishness to be honest, so something had to be done and it was done and I back it 100%,” he said.

[Googly]

ZC old will be lobbying hard to get this to go their way. They have to have a lot of old friends they’ve broken bread with amongst those ICC fellas. I wonder how that will work? I’m guessing it will go the vote? We need to know the people that get to do that. Someone needs to check their bank accounts before and after.

[Googly]

Titan Law’s tweet is breaking news.
Vince Hogg is the new Managing Director with immediate effect and is allowed to attend the ICC meeting to represent the interim board.
What is ominous is that it further states that at the meeting Zimbabwe Cricket’s status will be decided.
He’d better have a silver tongue and lots of plans.

[Googly]

I’ve just seen a great Instagram of Gayle chatting to Muyeye, they obviously played a charity game together, saying he was very impressed with him. Come on home, lad!

[Donald]

Vince hogg!!!! There's a blast from than past. Did a good expose on the politics at ZC after he left in 2004. Unfortunately I think those elements woudnt have forgotten

[Googly]

This is the double glove slap returned in spades.
This may give Mr Chingoka and Mr Bvute a stroke ea.
It’s the only way to get the ICC to pay attention.

[Donald]

I think its brilliant. The man who led the helm and who was the last man who presided over zimbabwe cricket in 2003/2004 where our finances werent in the negative. That should be his opening line to the ICC. I think its quite prothetic that he has the job of saving the organisation hopefully with an impassioned speech

[Googly]

Mukhu’s head in a plastic bag like a scene out of The Godfather would work as well

[Donald]

He can rightfully point to the fact that he presided over zimbabwe cricket when the finances were in very good order. The very last man to do so.
Hopefully he can pull this out the bag. SRC has stacked the board with ex players and cricket expertise. That has to be relevant as opposed to the pharmacist lol

[kudet]

very soon there will be yet another racism saga with the way things are penning up.. mukuhlani et al wont go down without a fight and this is going to be nasty. i hope i am wrong. zimbabwe cricket is so polarised when it comes to race relations and surely tantrums will be thrown by the guys who are threatened by all this. next week will decide how this will pen out but hey, so so tricky.