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

[Paoli]

Just 2 years ago Zimbabwe were a semi-competitive cricket team. In spite of a crippling dictatorship grappling the nation, and allegations of racism still being rife in the Cricket Board, the Zimbabwean players continued to press on well...

Then it turned sour...Almost a year after Andy Flower and Henry Olonga quit Zimbabwe after a protest against the Mugabe government, 15 white players walked out. Missing out a year earlier, this is when the ICC had a golden opportunity to tackle the ZCU head on, put in an interim board and hope that cricket in the nation stayed apolitical for as long as could be. As we know, the ICC baulked at that chance and let Zimbabwe Cricket demise into what is now an anarchical structure. The ICC left many dumbfounded when they held a shambles of an inquiry into racism in the ZCU and came out with what they believed was no racism. Players slowly began to return. Firstly, Barney Rogers, Charlie Coventry and Gavin Ewing returned. Following these were Blignaut and the great Heath Streak. A month later, Zimbabwe could perhaps become a force with four key batsmen returning.

In September, the final straw hit Zimbabwe Cricket. Black players were disillusioned with the board and captain Taibu quit, and all first class players went on strike. Though these players have halted that strike, there is no way known that they can work under a government controlled cricket board. All white and asian administrators have been fired, for reportedly "only wanting to do good for their agenda and not for the governments".

Frank Sinatra's "My Way" sums up the days of Zimbabwean Cricket: "What's more, what's more than this, I did it My Way". With no help from ZC. Unlike Sinatra, ZC DID need help and weren't given it.

The ICC may as well disban. The Council is ruining cricket and fails to acknowledge the issues that associate themselves with cricket. At least the IOC have had the gall to remove countries in the past. The ICC don't want to and have let ZC go back to primal ways.

All we are left to do is remember what was, and ponder what may have been. My friends, I'll say it true, I'll state my case, of which I'm certain: It won't take long for the ICC to expel Zimbabwe if they do find a way back. Hopefully they don't dent a nations pride with such pedigree as Andy Flower, Duncan Fletcher and Heath Streak by re-entering the cricketing scene. Unfortunately Zimbabwean Cricket hasn't had a small accident. It has had a massive accident, the collective car is a write off, and all the passengers passed away.

[Mongoose]

Originally Posted by Paoli69

The ICC may as well disban. The Council is ruining cricket and fails to acknowledge the issues that associate themselves with cricket. At least the IOC have had the gall to remove countries in the past. The ICC don't want to and have let ZC go back to primal ways.

To be fair to the ICC, they can't tell Zimbabwe how to run their own cricket. What they can do is take away test status, and after the developments in the last few days, the time has surely come for this to happen. The whole country of Zimbabwe is a mess, and while the situation with their cricket is very sad, I don't think it comes as a surprise to most people. Surely there are enough people in Zim who can see Mugabe is leading them all to ruin?

[Paoli]

Isn't ZC an ICC organisation?

Look at what they did with Kenya. Why not with Zim? I know we face a lot of political problems, and many are saying Blair should do more...but can you tell someone else what to do with their country.

The ICC can collapse ZC and start a new organisation, and their claims show naievete.

Martin Williamson said, "The corpse is warm, but the funeral arrangements have begun".

[Occasional Fan]

Originally Posted by Paoli69

Isn't ZC an ICC organisation?

Not really. The ZC is a member of the ICC, which could not exist itself without its members. In the context of the last England tour of Zimbabwe, David Morgan of the ECB warned against blaming the ICC for pretty much anything, when he said that by blaming the ICC you are in reality blaming the national boards which make it up. The ICC can put whatever it likes on the agenda for discussion - but so can all the member boards, and in the end it is their votes which will determine what (if any) action is taken in regard to Zimbabwe's status. My personal view is well documented here - it is time for ZC to be suspended from all international cricket, not only on the grounds of cricket governance, which when all said and done is a pretty minor issue concerning only a small minority of people, but also on the human rights/diplomatic/political grounds which were applied in suspension of South Africa during its darker days. But the will to do it needs to come from the member boards, not the ICC itself.

[Paoli]

I don't doubt that it is an incredibly small issue when you look at Zimbabwe's wider picture.

But could you imagine if England had a feared PM who severed ties with other western nations, had a cricket board that was in virtual anarchy and then the government takes it over?

Unfortunately cricket won't be the same in Zimbabwe ever again, so that's why a stand should be taken now. ZC is a sub-branch of the ICC and the ICC therefore have the right to void any role that ZC play...they can remove the organisation's official status. Why don't they do that?

The thing is, the ICC have let Zimbabwean cricket slide. They should've been in at the first chance, post World Cup 2003, or, dare I say, when Goodwin and Johnson left in 2000.

[Mongoose]

Originally Posted by Paoli69

Unfortunately cricket won't be the same in Zimbabwe ever again, so that's why a stand should be taken now. ZC is a sub-branch of the ICC and the ICC therefore have the right to void any role that ZC play...they can remove the organisation's official status. Why don't they do that?

The ICC can only act from outside Zimbabwe. They can remove ZC's status as an ICC member. However, they can't tell ZC how to run cricket within Zimbabwe, and they can tell ZC how to pick the Zimbabwe team. Of course, they can give advice, make recommendations, even issue threats of the consequences if ZC doesn't comply with what the ICC asks of it. But if ZC refuses, there's nothing the ICC can do. If Zimbabwe's government wants to write its own cricketing obituary, no-one can stop it.

[Occasional Fan]

Paoli, I am not quibbling about what the ICC should or should not do, just pointing out (based on David Morgan's comments only and on no independent research) that the ICC is only as strong as the collective actions of its member boards. No-one will be happier to see ZC bunged out of the family than I will, as long as it is an effective arm of the present Zimbabwe government. But the member boards of the ICC are the ones who have to act: the ICC itself, if Morgan has it right, is not able to act on its own initiative. (Incidentally, I don't see ZC or any other board as a sub-branch of the ICC, and I don't think that is right at all. It's a member of it, not a subsidiary to it. It is, at the moment, regrettably in my view, a subsidiary part of the government of Zimbabwe.)

[acker]

Unfortunately it looks like the hole's so deep their is no crawling out of it. The only ones left running Zimbabwean cricket are Mugabe's yes men and Mugabe does'nt give a stuff wether Zimbabwe plays cricket or not. I'd prefer the ICB put its resources into fostering cricket in the US which even if it never competes with baseball should down the track return $ back to cricket rather than continuing to feed corupt Zimbabwean official's cricket $

[Beny]

Mugabe does'nt give a stuff wether Zimbabwe plays cricket or not

I think Mugabe cares alot about weather Zimbabwe is playing cricket or not. Take a look what happened when NZ went over there. All the cameras and foriegn journalists were confined to an area that allowed Mugabe to show off a peacefull and joyous cricket game... the people in the ground were happy and the grass was green as can be... couple of KM's down the road ofcourse there were people living in virtual concentration camps after their homes had been demolished but nodoby saw that. It also provides a nice distraction for his supporters.

[tg123]

i think the icc should give poor nations suck as zimbabwe fiji and many more some money for cricket equipmen so they can improve