Pan Africa Team.

[Ernest]

Just a thought but teams like Zimbabwe, cricket life is on a day to day basis, seems to be lurching from one crisis to another.
While on the other hand we have teams like kenya, who are desperate to play Test cricket, not to mention some of the Southern African states (excluding South Africa).

So could a team called Africa work, would these small teams be better coming together, and sharing their collective pool of players.

And most of all, would a Africa wide cricket team, take the politics out of African cricket, their headquarters could be based in South Africa, or even italy or some other neutral country.

Look at the size of Austraia, they made it work despite long distances.

Just a thought.

[Zainub]

Most of the players will be Zimbabwean anyway (one or perhaps 2 Kenyans at most), I don't know how many Namibian or Zambian or whatever players could make it to Pan Africa team

[Andy Mellon]

I don't agree with your reasoning there Zainub. Judging by how well Namibia have been doing in the Zimbo domestic competition, and the close runs they gave England in some recent one dayers, I think some Namibians would be competing for places.

The whole idea is flawed in that it would assume that an uncorrupt African team of selectors could be found. I just can't see it working when the ZCU is as political as it is and there are such problems with the Kenyan Cricket Union

[Zainub]

I said Andy that I didn't know how many Namibian or Zambian players could make it to Pan Africa team, I didn't say they wouldn't, I asked, thanks for answering all the same I agree on the second point you make, would be just impossible to find a bunch of unbiased selectors, too much politics out there in African cricket for this to become a success story

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Andy Mellon

The whole idea is flawed in that it would assume that an uncorrupt African team of selectors could be found. I just can't see it working when the ZCU is as political as it is and there are such problems with the Kenyan Cricket Union

At the moment the idea may be flawed, but making the united cricked body Africa wide, could split the corrupt individual boards.
The African sides as individuals can't compete with the big lads, Zimbabwe at their best IMHO is as good as they would ever get, so the cream of Africa would make up the team.
It could generate interest amoungst the peoples, and this is where Africa would eventually draw it's strength, it would need time to evolve, but it is bound to be at least as good as it is now, and it would bring in smaller states like Namibia, and Zambia.
This is why I said a Pan Africa side, it would IMHO unpolitisise African cricket to a large degree, and a new selection body would be in place.

The alternative to doing nothing, will mean a weak representation from Africa for generations.
Just a thought, there may be others.

[Zainub]

You are perhaps right about the fact that there aren't many better alternatives, people have talked about two tiers (even 3 tiers) but I'm a little skeptical of some of those ideas for some reasons...in anycase I think you should let the ICC know (of your suggestions I mean, go to their website, their must be some way you could let them know of your thoughts)...they're having this meeting in Delhi sometime from now, where they're suppose to discuss Zimbabwe's test status amongst other things, you might never know, Ehsan Mani might like your idea and then you could be famous

[Pete]

Originally Posted by Ernest

This is why I said a Pan Africa side, it would IMHO unpolitisise African cricket to a large degree

How?

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Zainub Razvi

Ehsan Mani might like your idea and then you could be famous

LOL he would take the credit himself I am sure Mikes A Team ideas are more popular than they used to be.
Back to the cricket, it would be good to see a strong cricket showing in Africa.

Originally Posted by Pete 41599

How?

Well Pete if you mean the ZCU, it's influence would be watered down in a Pan Africa team, each country would be answerable to the Africa (as a whole) governing body.

[Pete]

There's not enough talent in other African countries to have an all Africa team. Other countries that didn't have good enough players would want to be represented and the race quota row would increase tenfold.

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Pete

There's not enough talent in other African countries to have an all Africa team. Other countries that didn't have good enough players would want to be represented and the race quota row would increase tenfold.

Don't forget there is an option to allow members at the begining to join with a minimum standard, teams like Namibia and Maybe Zambia could join up with Kenya and Zimbabwe for a start.
There may be other solutions, but things can't carry on as they are, and such an aliance would stimulate interest i would hope.
Maybe a zonal approach would be better, I don't know, but IMHO doing nothing is not an option, or Zimbabwe will just remain perenial whipping boys, that can't be right, leaving politics out for an instant.