Taibu saved

[zimfan1]

Taibu saved

By Makomborero Mutimukulu

AGE and a promising future saved former national cricket team captain Tatenda Taibu from having his contract with Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) revoked, a report on an internal investigation into his assault case reveals.

Taibu (26) was slapped with a 10-match ban after he was found guilty of assaulting ZC general manager (finance) Esther Lupepe last year.

But a report by the investigations committee, made up of three retired judges, says justice was tempered with mercy in view of the former Churchill High School lad’s promising future with the national cricket team.

"In this case we take into account that the respondent is a young man who has a long career ahead of him in cricket. In fact, we take into account that he is one of the leading cricket players in the country, and his behaviour on and off the pitch must be exemplary.

"He has, however, not shown any contrition for his behaviour. If anything he has shown contempt of his superiors by making unsubstantial allegations," reads part of the report in possession of this paper.

"In view of the above and the fact we have alluded to that he is a young man with a bright future ahead of him, we find ourselves inclined to tamper justice with mercy and not recommend the ultimate penalty of dismissal, which penalty is at our disposal.

"We therefore recommend to management of the Zimbabwe Cricket Union that the respondent be suspended from participating in 10 ODI matches with immediate effect."

In his defence, Taibu said he assaulted Lupepe out of frustration as he had failed to access the money that was needed for an "urgent" operation on his wife.

However, the ZC disciplinary committee accused the wicketkeeper of basing his defence on flimsy grounds "which are not worth of belief at all".

"Tatenda Taibu was found guilty by this committee of misconduct. The position is worsened by the fact that the respondent's defence is based on spurious allegations, which are not worthy of belief at all.

"Assault, however minor, by an employee on another senior employee is a serious case of misconduct, which ordinarily would attract dismissal from employment. This shows a lack of respect for authority and a negative attitude towards one's employer.

"We are not going to lose sight of the fact that respondent’s behaviour on the day in question was irrational and must have been driven by the condition of his wife and his desperation to find money for the treatment, which money was not there at the bank. This, however, did not justify his manhandling of the complainant (Lupepe)."

The decision of the ZC disciplinary committee was arrived at before a Harare magistrate acquitted Taibu on the same charges earlier this year.

In granting Taibu’s application for refusal of remand magistrate Tapiwa Godzi said the court had been left in doubt as to how the alleged assault of Lupepe was committed because of inconsistencies in the prosecution’s case.

"It’s either this case was fabricated or the testimony of the witnesses is grossly exaggerated to the extent of making it unbelievable.

"In the premises, the application for discharge at the close of the State's case is hereby granted. The accused is accordingly found not guilty and acquitted. It would be futile to put the accused person to his defence," Godzi said.

ZC managing director Ozias Bvute explained the delay in making the judgment public thus: "At the time, we decided for the court case to end before making the outcome of the internal hearing public."

Meanwhile, the suspension of Taibu has opened the door for Charles Coventry, who will be the wicketkeeper in the five matches against Bangladesh in Bulawayo from August 9 to 18.

Coventry is part of the 19-man squad, which includes the uncapped pair of right-arm seamers Trevor Garwe and Admire Manyumwa that is in Victoria Falls for a team-bonding session.

The squad also includes promising Forster Mutizwa, who has been rewarded for his good showing in the domestic campaign as well as with Zimbabwe A.

Zimbabwe Squad:

Prosper Utseya (captain), Hamilton Masakadza, Ray Price, Stuart Matsikenyeri, Mark Vermeulen, Charles Coventry (wk), Vusi Sibanda, Sean Williams, Elton Chigumbura, Chamu Chibhabha, Forster Mutizwa, Keith Dabengwa, Timycen Maruma, Graeme Cremer, Chris Mpofu, Tawanda Mupariwa, Ed Rainsford, Admire Manyumwa and Trevor Garwe.

http://www.sundaymail.co.zw/inside.aspx ... 058&cat=18

[zimfan1]

hmmm says that Coventry will keep in the Bangladesh series

Question is how reliable is the article?

[Detective RDS]

hmmm says that Coventry will keep in the Bangladesh series

Question is how reliable is the article?

Don't know....

But I don't think Coventry will keep. Forster Mutizwa has a better wicket keeping record than Coventry. Coventry will keep if Mutizwa isn't selected. But I don't think it will happen. Coventry is placed nicely in the team as a specialist hard hitting batsman.