Can we drop a franchise/state side?

[ZIMDOGGY]

We whinge, we moan, that our players arent weathered against the international storm and the standard of the franchise system isnt preparing our boys for international cricket.


I often find in any given team there is alot of sports up for grabs, and the talent on show when the national team are away is minimal, imports aside.

Perhaps the answer is to drop a franchise.....either have a 4 team comp or bring back namibia (or consider Kenya) to the fore.


We can immediately improve the standard of the sides by doing this. Even after this is done....depth will still be an issue.

My thoughts would be to drop the mountaineers. They cant pay their players and MID-West Rhinos can cover the territory that would be lost.
Mashonaland will take a few of their bats, and im sure the rocks will take all their bowlers.

Mashonaland and matabeleland are the staples and have been there since Jesus was a boy so we cant drop them, so mountaineers seems the logical of the others.

We could also introduce a 2 import per side cap to soften the blow.



This is just purely a thinking point.

[eugene]

Perhaps we should just go back to Mashonaland and Matabeleland. That would be some competitive cricket.

[hhm]

No No No ZIMDOGGY!. The basis of our being 'allowed' resumption of test cricket was the establishment of a First Class structure of this nature. This was prescribed by an ICC commission whose findings were sanctioned by the ICC. All the more reaosn why, even though the ICC are a little uncomfortable and we are resuming tests ahead of the schedule they prescribed, they aren't making any noises or making any objections loudly. If anything what we really need is a sixth local team so the numbers are even and there are no idle teams on game weeks. In the interim Namibia (if they are not/wont be playing in SA), & Kenya should really consider joining our domestic league, which would make it eight competitive teams. More importantly a second/reserve league or at the very least a more solid club structure with it's own reserve league system (not to mention all Primary & High schools possible). You will have noted that Bvute wants to increase professional players from 150 to 250000. It's a long shot but he's right - and I doubt he'll take kindly to your suggestion, and ultimately the kind of sentiment flowing from this forum.

eugene, It might be that my ability to detect a scent of humor is flawed or or betrays me from time to time but you are really beginning to concern me....

[Conant]

Jah, zimdoggy. Really!! As if the idea is bad enough, but no, it has to be the Mountaineers!! Wait, arent they the Logan Cup Champions?

Your posts are quite often (darkly) humurous and insightful. This one, unfortunately, aint one of them.

So suddenly this identity they've forged for themselves, must be thrown away?

[aydee]

Jah, zimdoggy. Really!! As if the idea is bad enough, but no, it has to be the Mountaineers!! Wait, arent they the Logan Cup Champions?

Your posts are quite often (darkly) humurous and insightful. This one, unfortunately, aint one of them.

So suddenly this identity they've forged for themselves, must be thrown away?

Exactly.

I can't comment on the payroll issues that have occured, but all the franchises have worked hard in the ladt couple of years to establish a brand, facilities, a development structure, etc. This can't all just be thrown away.

[ZIMDOGGY]

Perhaps I wasn't clear. I'm not necessarily FOR dropping a franchise. It's taking a step back to go forward. I'd simply just like to discuss the merit of the idea. I can see slot of benefit both ways and thought it would make an interesting talking point in ZCF. It WILL improve the standard I do stick by that.... But, Does squad strength outweigh exposure to both fans and players??? That's the question in my mind.


As for the mountaineers jibe. I'd only suggest they kick the bucket in this scenario because they can't pay their boys. And given it seems rocks take on the matabeleland/ Bulawayo overflow and the rhinos and M'ers take on the mashona/harare overflow I'd be inclined to kick one of those out. And considering I'm a rhino fanboy......

[ZIMDOGGY]

Hhm.....

Are you serious?????
Bvute wants 250,000 pro cricketers in Zimbabwe?
Gee, I hope that's a typo because that says alot about big boppa Bvute if it's true.


He wants a quarter million pro cricketers?
About half the working male population and 80% of men in cricketing age and he wants them to be cricke-no- PROFESSIONAL! cricketers....
where they going to get the money for that? No one will be going to watch the Logan cup or tests because everyone will be too busy playing cricket for cash.
The zimbabwean economy will shut down every Saturday afternoon.

That said Hhm, I think I like you. Your posts are very opinionated and you approach your posts like I approach my women, long, strong and passionate.

What's your story ?

[aydee]

Hhm.....

Are you serious?????
Bvute wants 250,000 pro cricketers in Zimbabwe?
Gee, I hope that's a typo because that says alot about big boppa Bvute if it's true.


He wants a quarter million pro cricketers?
About half the working male population and 80% of men in cricketing age and he wants them to be cricke-no- PROFESSIONAL! cricketers....
where they going to get the money for that? No one will be going to watch the Logan cup or tests because everyone will be too busy playing cricket for cash.
The zimbabwean economy will shut down every Saturday afternoon.

That said Hhm, I think I like you. Your posts are very opinionated and you approach your posts like I approach my women, long, strong and passionate.

What's your story ?

No, he said he wanted 250,000 cricketers, clearly not professional cricketers... That would require about 20,000 professional teams for them to play for!! haha.

[CrimsonAvenger]

This was reported in The Indipendent article quoted here: http://zimcricketforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=2158

Could very well be a typo there. BTW, what is the current population of Zim?

[ZIMDOGGY]

9 mil, but with millions abroad.


Was 12 mil a decade ago .

Think aids has taken a few though