Alistair Campbell quits Zimbabwe Cricket role [Updated]

[bayhaus]

It was Flakeman who broke this here first.

Alistair Campbell has resigned from his position as Zimbabwe Cricket's director of international cricket and commercial affairs. Campbell officially tendered his resignation four days ago, but asked in his letter to ZC chief executive Wilfred Mukondiwa for his exit from the position to be back-dated to October 1, allowing him to serve his three-month notice period by the end of the year.

"Dear Wilfred, It is with great sadness that I tender my resignation as Director International Cricket and Commercial," Campbell's letter reads. "In the interests of getting this done as amicably as possible, I am suggesting that this (my resignation) be back-dated to 1st of October 2015 to allow for the three-month notice period to end 31st December 2015.

"I do not think that it is in the interests of either parties for me to be in the office for that long, therefore I would like to complete the hand over by the 15th of November 2015 thus allowing my successor ample opportunity to get his feet under the desk."

Amid a general administrative reshuffle, Campbell, 43, had been appointed ZC's managing director, cricket in January this year under former ZC board chairman Wilson Manase. Campbell's appointment came days after Dav Whatmore was named head coach of the national side.

Campbell, a former national captain who played 60 Tests and 188 ODIs for Zimbabwe, had previously held the positions of chief selector and chairman of the cricket committee, during which time he helped to guide Zimbabwe's return to Test cricket in 2011. More recently, he was instrumental in setting up Zimbabwe's tour to Pakistan in May as well as arranging for home series against India, New Zealand, Pakistan, Ireland and Afghanistan, who are currently playing a limited overs series in Bulawayo.

But Campbell was controversially accused of racial bias by former national captain Prosper Utseya in a letter to the ZC Board in May this year, with Utseya claiming that Campbell intervened personally in his non-selection at the World Cup. Utseya also claimed that Campbell's decision to give coaching roles to former players Heath Streak and Grant Flower, who have since moved on to coaching roles with Bangladesh and Pakistan respectively, were racially motivated. ZC appointed a committee to investigate the allegations, and it is understood that both Utseya and Campbell's legal representatives have presented their cases to the committee.

Campbell's position as managing director of cricket was then changed to a new position as director of commercial affairs, international and franchise cricket amid further restructuring in June. However, his administrative powers were greatly reduced soon afterwards following the ZC annual general meeting in August, when Manase was replaced by current ZC Chairman Tavengwa Mukuhlani. It had been expected that Manase, who had held his position on an interim basis after Peter Chingoka's departure last year, would stand uncontested for re-election at the meeting, but Mukuhlani announced his running for the role on the morning of the meeting, and then succeeded Manase.

After Manase's departure, Campbell was stripped of his franchise cricket and commercial portfolios, leaving him to run only ZC's international cricket affairs, and his influence within the organisation dwindled considerably. The running of franchise cricket was transferred to the new managing director for development, Givemore Makoni, who had previously been convenor of selectors. Commercial affairs were transferred back to Esther Lupepe's office.

In his resignation letter to Mukondiwa, Campbell also claimed to be owed money by ZC, and asked to be paid before he leaves his position.

"You will also be aware that I am owed money by Zimbabwe Cricket. I would appreciate it if this matter is dealt with prior to my departure," wrote Campbell. "Please, would you kindly ask the Human Resources Department to finalise my exit package as soon as possible so as to achieve the specified exit timeline.

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank Zimbabwe Cricket for the opportunity and I wish them well in the future."

Liam Brickhill is a freelance journalist based in Cape Town

Source

[Kriterion_BD]

He also mentioned Williams...wonder if Williams will bother to tour BD or not.

[bavuma_rabada]

Was always bound to happen. CWC and India money has run out. See you after the 2019 CWC.

[jaybro]

Was always bound to happen. CWC and India money has run out. See you after the 2019 CWC.

You know nothing !!!!

It was AC who brought in all the sponsorship for the home series with his connections in Asia and his reputation trustee by those in Zimbabwe. Now he is gone I bet we loose all the sponsorship and go back to player strikes from not getting paid .....

But you will be happy because this will probably signal the return of your favourite lap boys Maruma and co ......

[eugene]

Let's see how quickly the sponsors and fixtures disappear now. Pretty much anyone you talk to involved with cricket in Zimbabwe says ACs presence was a positive one and that he has better subcontinent connections to bring in sponsors than anyone else ZC could find.

[Flakeman]

Sponsors have pulled out on a $200 000 deal to totally redo Country Club. Because funnily enough nobody trusts this lot. One thing is that Esther Lupepe is a greedy savage with absolutely not a damn care about cricket.

ICC should take immediate action. but won't.
[Mod edit: namecalling]

[CrimsonAvenger]

So, things are back with Esther Lupepe, the person primarily responsible for the departure from the game of the brightest indigenous star till date, Tatenda Taibu. And we are progressing.

[eugene]

Sponsors have pulled out on a $200 000 deal to totally redo Country Club. Because funnily enough nobody trusts this lot. One thing is that Esther Lupepe is a greedy savage with absolutely not a damn care about cricket.

ICC should take immediate action. but won't.

Radaba you're just a complete fool so please just stop talking on things you choose not to see.

AC's ability to attract sponsors is unrivaled in Zimbabwean sports. Lean times ahead for ZC.

[jaybro]

By the end of this season Zimbabwe will have played 23 ODI matches and 11 t20 matches ( not including the 6 Wc ODI's) and there have been A team fixtures against Afghanistan, Ireland and BD as well. The list of sponsors listed at the match presentations during the India, NZ and Pakistan home series were endless .....

Lets see what happens next year, although there is a full international calender prepared already I wouldn't be surprised if these home series can't be funded and cancelled due to the lack of sponsorships. People claim AC is dirty but as I see it things are good when he is around and shit when he leaves .....

Though I guess there are people here who will claim he has stolen all the WC money and left, how convenient Im guessing he has stolen all the sponsors as well ??

Fact is AC brings in the sponsors when he isn't around we play with blank jerseys ....

Sponsors have pulled out on a $200 000 deal to totally redo Country Club. Because funnily enough nobody trusts this lot. One thing is that Esther Lupepe is a greedy savage with absolutely not a damn care about cricket.

.

There you go $200,000 down the drain, that could have paid players wages for a while

[bavuma_rabada]

Your criticism and praise for AC makes absolutely no sense.

First of all the bulk of Zimbabwe's revenue comes from the ICC grants. Particularly post world cup revenue. They receive that money regardless of who's in charge of ZC.

Do you know how much Zimbabwe received from the ICC?

There is no way whatever sponsorship revenue AC got would have been enough to fund even 25% of a FC season, or host a tour. All it can afford to do paint the bathrooms at Queens and replace door hinges. Sponsorships are spread over a period of time, not paid as a lump sum remember.

What is us$200k? Did you even see the kind of money ZC players demanded as salaries in the media?

Sometimes folk here at ZCF simply refuse to analyse things logically but operate emotionally. ZC already has far much money than AC would have generated!!!

Show us the figures. How much revenue does ZC get from ICC compared to sponsorship revenue AC generated. Even way back under ZCU, or 2000-01 sponsorship revenue was a tiny fraction compared to overall ICC grants. It was mostly cars and team kits, but in cash terms it was laughable.

AC left, the only thing you should expect from him is to clear the air regarding Utseya and corruption accusations. If he is guilty that would be his priority. And quite frankly that should be the only thing you guys should be waiting anxiously for form him.