BY DANIEL NHAKANISO
THE International Cricket Council (ICC) is set to end the country’s isolation from the global cricket family by lifting Zimbabwe Cricket’s suspension when its board holds its quarterly meeting in Dubai, United Arab Emirates starting tomorrow.
Zimbabwe was left facing a bleak future in the sport after its status as a full member of the ICC was suspended during the ICC’s annual conference in London on July 18 over alleged government interference in the in the running of the sport.
This followed the suspension of the entire ZC board and its acting managing director Givemore Makoni by the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) and the subsequent appointment of an interim committee.
In response, the apex body stated that ZC was in breach of Article 2.4 (c) and (d) of the ICC Constitution, and that the actions of the SRC in suspending the board in June constituted government interference in Zimbabwe Cricket’s affairs.
“We do not take the decision to suspend a member lightly, but we must keep our sport free from political interference,” ICC chairman Shashank Manohar said then.
“What has happened in Zimbabwe is a serious breach of the ICC Constitution and we cannot allow it to continue unchecked.”
The suspension has left the domestic game virtually on its knees, with ICC freezing all funding to the country, while national teams are currently excluded from ICC sanctioned events.
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The national women’s team was barred from taking part in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier held in Scotland from August 31 to September 7, while the national men’s team was also excluded from 2019 ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier which gets underway in UAE on Friday.
Zimbabwe was, however, allowed to tour Bangladesh and Singapore in bilateral T20I series, although the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) opted to replace.
However after the country met the October 8 deadline for the SRC to “unconditionally reinstate” the Tavengwa Mukuhlani-led ZC board, Zimbabwe’s status is likely to be reviewed, amid strong indications that the suspension will be lifted.
Should the ICC lift Zimbabwe’s suspension, it would pave way for the national Under-19 team to feature in the Under-19 World Cup to be hosted by neighbours South Africa from January 17 to February 9 next year.
The lifting of the suspension would also ensure that ZC, who were due to receive US $94 million over eight years start receiving ICC funding again.
