And now, the end is near...so we face, the final curtain

[flanflinger]

Sadly TG, if it was just a matter of money the Zimbabwe situation would be very easy to solve.

The problem is related to the politics of Zimbabwe and is not as simple as supplying more equipment or helping them develop. There are fundamental problems that are much bigger than Cricket.

May I suggest you read some of these articles:-

http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/zimba...ry/233338.html
http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/zimba...ry/233585.html
http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/zimba...ry/233593.html
http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/zimba...ry/232203.html
http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/revie...ry/230429.html
http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/zimba...ry/227861.html
http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/zimba...ry/226221.html
http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/zimba...ry/226111.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/afr...es/1064589.stm

[Paoli]

I spoke to several cricketers when I was in Zimbabwe over the past week, white and black, and they all said there is no way known they'll play for the national team under the current conditions.

[butchering lee]

the politics of zimbabwe are sadly related to its history. the fundamental problems truly are much bigger than cricket. may i suggest you read these articles too - i think there should be an alternative view (whether or not i believe it): i put them here as i've been visiting a zim forum for a few years and mugabe is not without support. most hate the product but a surprising amount agree with the process (or at least some of the reasons behind it)

http://zimblogger.blogspot.com/

they're interesting if only for the insight into how much of a problem the politics really is - the zelig article is 2 or 3 years old but he notes some major flaws in tsvangarai. well, anyway i think they're interesting.

EDIT - i've changed the link. the last two are more up-to-date and a bit shorter. basically i created the blog purely for the purpose of posting the articles (wish i knew something about computers )

[imaginarydiva]

I find it rather painful to see how the whole system seems to have collapsed.I somehow second Paoli's sentiments.I think the ICC could have played a larger role. True,sometimes it gets hard when sports is entangled with the politics of a country. However,as the governing body of cricketing nations, of which the ZCU is a member, the ICC has a responsibility to try to safegaurd its member's interests. I don't know if suspending the test status will have a positive impact in the long run. Its a rather sad moment for all Zimbabwean cricket fans.