Associates unhappy with Zimbabwe A-team plan

[zimfan1]

Associates unhappy with Zimbabwe A-team plan

Cricinfo staff

July 9, 2009
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Cricket's leading Associates, supported by the ICC's own chief executives' committee, lodged objections to Zimbabwe being allowed to enter an A team into the 2009-10 Intercontinental Cup.

Zimbabwe were included in the tournament as part of plans to help them return to the Test arena formulated following a fact-finding mission and report by Julian Hunte, the president of the West Indies board. However, it was generally believed this meant they would field a full team in the competition.

But Zimbabwe announced that it would treat the event as a chance to bring on youngsters, a move which left Associates far from impressed.

"If the idea is this prepares them for Test cricket, then surely they should be made to field the players who are going to be in that Test side," one Associate chairman told Cricinfo. "An A team means that if they lose they can shrug and say 'well, it's not our main side' and yet if they win they can boast then even their second-string squad is good enough."

At the ICC's recent annual get together, both the Associates meeting and the chief executives' committee separately tabled their concerns about this and pushed for Zimbabwe to be made to enter their best XI.

Senior ICC officials refused to force the issue, claiming that Hunte's report did not compel Zimbabwe to enter a full-strength team. As a compromise, the side is likely to be known as Zimbabwe XI rather than Zimbabwe A.

"Call them what you like," the chairman said. " Again the ICC has fudged the issue and allowed Zimbabwe off the hook."

However, Roddy Smith, chief executive of Cricket Scotland, told Cricinfo that "even if it is a Zimbabwe XI it is a step in the right direction in terms of more games against Full Members or their A sides … I very much welcome their addition into the Intercontinental Cup."

[Kopje]

Thats some bull***! Our "A" side is good enough competion for them, what are they yapping about. The Scots are cool with it....

[maehara]

Ireland are also on record as saying Zim A is fine - interview with their CE, Warren Deutrom. Will have to dig it up for the record.

[Kopje]

Ireland are also on record as saying Zim A is fine - interview with their CE, Warren Deutrom. Will have to dig it up for the record.

Possibly the Dutch and the Kenyans might have been the ones who complained

[Detective RDS]

It's better to name the side ' Zimbabwean XI ' rather than ' Zimbabwe A ' , I also agree with it. It's up to the selectors which of the players they want to select. If they want to take the chance to prepare the first team for tests or push the youngsters to boost the reserve bench.

But I don't think, it's logistic to field the 'A' side in the name of Zimbabwean XI. Just think, what's the need to give experience to the 'A' team players, there are FC games in the country.

It's the full strength side who will play the tests, not the 'A' side. In order to cope with the heat of the test and build a test playing mind setup/test momentum, the main players should play to get some FC match practise and warm up.

My personal opinion is that, above all it's match practise to return to the test format. It's cricket, so there will be win or loss, not to fear about the result .The brave has always won. So, what's the fear to win the Inter Continental Cup and get the test status back with full respect. Challenge what it's called and nothing is better than it.

[brmtaylor.com admin]

My personal opinion is that, above all it's match practise to return to the test format. It's cricket, so there will be win or loss, not to fear about the result .The brave has always won. So, what's the fear to win the Inter Continental Cup and get the test status back with full respect.

Well put Detective RDS.

My fear was that if the main Zimbabwe team played and lost there would be a lot of humiliation. But you are spot on, you can't be scared about what will happen - with the ultimate prize at stake (Test cricket) full strength Zimbabwe should just play to win.

[Detective RDS]

Well put Detective RDS.

My fear was that if the main Zimbabwe team played and lost there would be a lot of humiliation. But you are spot on, you can't be scared about what will happen - with the ultimate prize at stake (Test cricket) full strength Zimbabwe should just play to win.

Thanks and yes, agree with you.