Will cricket die in Zimbabwe?

David · Joined: 03 Oct 2005 Posts: 31 Location: Maidstone, Kent

Tatenda Taibu is saying that the game could die within a year in Zimbabwe if there aren't major changes in administration. He and his team-mates want Ozias Bvute and Peter Chingoka to stand down. But will that be enough? Is a change of government also necessary? Should Zimbabwe still be playing Tests and ODIs?

Wanderer, how's this being reported in South Africa? I get the impression your government is sympathetic to Mugabe, is he being blamed at all for the mess?

wanderer · Joined: 21 Oct 2005 Posts: 6 Location: South Africa

I am not into the politics of it all...but yes, stuff is really hectic over there, and the resignations of Chingoka and Bvute won't mean much, I don't think...

As far a mugabe is concerned, well, all I am willing to say is that he has had absolute power for a long time.....and you know what they say about absolute power...

A country's cricket is only as strong and stable as it's domestic levels. Even during the years of apartheid in SA, we had a very strong domestic system. And that kept us going, so when we were allowed back into the international fold, our cricket was ready to take on the world. Zimbabwe, at this moment in time, will find it tough to beat our domestic teams. Therefore I believe they should be stripped of both Test and ODI status. Not because they can't beat our club teams, but because of everything else....What's happening in Zim now, is not any different than what happened in SA during apartheid.

In SA today, everyone may speak their mind, so the situation in Zim is constantly reported on....And when you see headlines like these, cricket kinda takes a back-seat....

Dysentery hits Harare
Zim inflation top 400%
200 000 may die of hunger
Warnings of civil war
Zim in it's darkest hour

http://www.news24.com/News24/Africa/Zimbabwe/Home/

That's the link where you can read more....There's a complete Zimbabwe "Special Section".

David · Joined: 03 Oct 2005 Posts: 31 Location: Maidstone, Kent

It sounds as if things won't get any better there until Mugabe dies or is overthrown ... and who knows what will happen then? It could be all-out civil war. Sad

But on the cricket front, I see Tatenda Taibu has had to go into hiding after his brave stand. Pretty soon the "Test" side will just be 11 puppets, with little or no cricketing ability - surely then the ICC will have to say "enough's enough."

saadadvanced7 · Joined: 12 Nov 2005 Posts: 28 Location: Canada

i still don't clearly understand what taibu did that has forced him into hiding because his life is on the line. i know it was something about racism and contracts.

so can anyone explain to me what exactly is going on in this chaotic zimbabwean situation?

all i can say is, zimbabwean cricket is in a very bad situation.

theyorker · Joined: 29 Oct 2005 Posts: 3 Location: Yorkshire

i know politically its land reform. White farmers since colonialism and the days of Rhodesia have owned the most fertile and the vast majority of land. Mugabe came to power in 1980 standing for black rights after the civil war.To abolish the racist land distribution an act was signed in 1992, giving the white farmers 10 years to leave Zimbabwe,in 2002 Mugabe's popularity of the wane he decides to seize land of the remaining 400 or so white farmers.

This brings in economic sanctions from the international community.

With the white farmers gone,the black population do not have the expertise and skills to yield the land-hence the poverty and famine. Mugabe starts look east policy.Invites the HCinese to iinvest in Zimbabwe(buy land) howver the moajority of the land is simply beingused for tobacco growing for china's explosive population#s smoking needs. Therfore no more food. most zimbabweans rely on food aid.

South Africa has given Mugabe a 100 Us milion dollars loan. Prime Minister Umbeki is believed to have given this loan to gain some leverage over Zimbabwe. Therfore it seems that Umbeki is theonly person who can influence zimbabwean policy.

hope that hopes the politically guys! correct me if im wrong about certain things.am a bit rusty

David · Joined: 03 Oct 2005 Posts: 31 Location: Maidstone, Kent

Taibu was forced into hiding for criticising the Zimbabwe administration - he's one of a group of players calling for the resignation of Ozias Bvute and Peter Chingoka.

saadadvanced7 · Joined: 12 Nov 2005 Posts: 28 Location: Canada

why does he want those to players to retire? Is it because they are white?

David · Joined: 03 Oct 2005 Posts: 31 Location: Maidstone, Kent

Chingoka and Bvute are not players - they are notoriously incompetent and corrupt administrators. Taibu was one of 74 players - most of Zimbabwe's player pool - calling for them to step down, and still they stay.

That's Zimbabwe for you. But TBH the damage has been done now, I don't think it would make much difference.

saadadvanced7 · Joined: 12 Nov 2005 Posts: 28 Location: Canada

Why did Taibu want those 2 administrators to step down?

David · Joined: 03 Oct 2005 Posts: 31 Location: Maidstone, Kent

TBH I don't know all the ins and outs, I get what info I know about this from reading Cricinfo and articles in papers and magazines, but I think it comes down to selection policies. Most of Zim's best players (who happened to be white) have been driven out of the game, dropped for no good reason, left the country because their families have had their land seized, or just become disillusioned with the whole set-up. I would recommend you read about it on Cricinfo, they actually still have a reporter in the country which is an achievement in itself.

saadadvanced7 · Joined: 12 Nov 2005 Posts: 28 Location: Canada

Okay, I read some stuff about this on cricinfo and now the ICC is planning to get involved.

David · Joined: 03 Oct 2005 Posts: 31 Location: Maidstone, Kent

Sadly, but inevitably, Taibu has resigned from the Zimbabwe captaincy and is leaving the country with his family. He's planning to play in South Africa.

Zimbabwe's next fixtures aren't until next year. It would be good to hear that other Test teams are refusing to play against them, but that's not going to happen. Bangladesh will be looking for another win!

saadadvanced7 · Joined: 12 Nov 2005 Posts: 28 Location: Canada

Zimbabwean cricket is going down. Taibu is gone. His international cricket career is over. This is a sad time for Zimbabwean cricket. The ICC needs to do something or Zimbabwean cricket is dead.

David · Joined: 03 Oct 2005 Posts: 31 Location: Maidstone, Kent

Well the ICC hasn't done anything (of course) but the Zimbabwe govt has - Bvute and Chingoka have been under investigation for fraud and when the police went to arrest them at 4 am today they'd both disappeared! it's not worth getting our hopes up, though, two more government puppets will no doubt be installed in their place by Zimbabwe cricket patron R Mugabe.

saadadvanced7 · Joined: 12 Nov 2005 Posts: 28 Location: Canada

I have no idea what is going to happen to Zimbabwean cricket. It's just a big chaotic mess. It is horrible. If the ICC doesn't get involved, then I fear the situation will only get worse.