Cricket in Zimbabwe
History
Cricket was introduced to Rhodesia in the Nineteenth Century and the Rhodesian Cricket Union was formed in 1898. Rhodesia participated in the Currie Cup, the South African inter-province competition in 1904/05 and then again from 1929/30 until 1979/80. In May 1980 the new post colonial country of Zimbabwe severed its cricketing ties with South Africa and it became an Associate Member of the (then) "International Cricket Conference".
ZC became a full member of the ICC on 6 July 1992 and played its first Test match on 18 October-22 October the same year, against India at the Harare Sports Club in Harare. The match was drawn.
During the 2003 cricket World Cup, the political situation in Zimbabwe came to the fore on the cricket field. Two Zimbabwean players, Andy Flower (white) and Henry Olonga (black), defied orders and wore black armbands during matches in protest against the "death of democracy in Zimbabwe" - a reference to their concern over the political actions of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe. Both players subsequently retired from cricket and emigrated from Zimbabwe.
On 2 April 2004, ZC announced that Test captain Heath Streak had resigned the captaincy and retired from cricket. Over the following days it became clear that Streak had been dismissed. Fourteen fellow white players submitted a list of demands to the ZC including the reinstatement of Streak and a review of the team selection process with a view to eliminating political and racial bias imposed by the Mugabe government. The ZC ignored the demands and fielded a team of inexperienced youths in two Tests and three ODIs against the touring Sri Lankan side. The understrength Zimbabwe team was resoundingly defeated, resulting in calls from many players, ex-players, commentators, and fans for the ICC to strip the ZC of Test status until the internal crisis could be resolved.
The matter reached a climax when ICC Chief Executive Malcolm Speed flew to Harare on 17 May to meet with ZC officials and discuss the crisis. The ZC refused to see him. Speed called an emergency meeting of the ICC Board to vote on the issue of Zimbabwe's suspension as a Test nation. On 21 May, with the vote just hours away, the ZC contacted Cricket Australia with an offer to cancel the two Test matches against Australia, due to begin the next day. Cricket Australia accepted the offer, thus averting the vote against the ZCU.
On 10 June, representatives of the ZC, Cricket Australia, the United Cricket Board of South Africa, and the Board of Control for Cricket in India met and agreed that all remaining Test matches involving Zimbabwe for 2004 would be cancelled.
In November 2005 Tatenda Taibu the young captain of the Zimbabwe international side resigned citing the "current situation in Zimbabwe cricket" as the main reason. [1]
In May 2007, the Australian Prime Minister John Howard declared his opposition to the political situation in Zimbabwe and the conduct of the Mugabe government by formally blocking the proposed tour to Zimbabwe in September 2007 by the Australian cricket team after discussions with Australian players.[1]
Governing body
The Zimbabwe Cricket Union is the governing body for the sport of cricket in Zimbabwe. Its trading name, from 2004, has been Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC). It is a full member of the International Cricket Council and African Cricket Association, and operates the Zimbabwean cricket team, organising Test tours and One Day Internationals with other nations. It also organises domestic cricket in Zimbabwe.
Domestic competions
The Logan Cup is the premier domestic first-class cricket competition in Zimbabwe. It has been contested on a provincial basis since the 1903-04 season, when the country was still called Rhodesia, but has only attained first-class status since Zimbabwe became a full member of the ICC in 1992.
Teams
Zimbabwean domestic first-class cricket involves the following teams:
Former Teams that played Logan Cup:
- Manicaland
- Mashonaland
- Matabeleland
- Midlands
- Mashonaland Country Districts
- Mashonaland "A"
- Mashonaland U-23
- Young Mashonaland
- CFX Academy
Masvingo were expected to receive first-class status in 2005-06, but that season of the Logan Cup was cancelled, and the team never had the opportunity to participate.
Teams which haves also enjoyed first-class cricket status at some point include:
- Matabeleland Country Districts
- Zimbabwe Board Presidents XI
- Zimbabwe Select
- Zimbabwe Provinces
- Zimbabwe "A"
- Zimbabwe "B"
- Rhodesia
- Rhodesia "A"
- Rhodesia "B"
National team
The Zimbabwean national cricket team is is currently inactive in Tests.
References
- ^ "Government blocks cricket tour of Zimbabwe". The Australian. 2007-05-13. Retrieved 2007-05-13.