After suspension chaos, Zimbabwe to not travel to Bangladesh for T20I tri-series

After they found themselves in big trouble with the International Cricket Council (ICC) suspending their cricket board because of government’s interference, Zimbabwe now have revealed their inability to stage domestic competitions as well as their Future Tours Programme schedule. They have said that they would not be able to honour international commitment including the tour of Bangladesh for a T20I tri-series also featuring Afghanistan, in September.ICC

The ICC took the extreme step on Thursday on charges of the Zimbabwe government’s alleged interference in the country’s cricketing affairs which it said has violated its constitution. Zimbabwe’s Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) suspended Zimbabwe Cricket and also its officials last month, earning the international governing body’s wrath. The government though denied the charges but this is not the first time that such allegations have come up in Zimbabwe’s cricket affairs.

On Saturday, the ZC said in a statement about its inability to honour international obligations. According to a report in ESPNcricinfo, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) said on their behalf that it is up to the ZC to decide on Zimbabwe’s participation in the tournament and if the African side did not take part which is highly likely now after the suspension, the tri-series will become a bilateral affair.

Both Zimbabwe’s men and women teams’ participation in qualifiers in jeopardy

Besides the series in Bangladesh, the ICC’s decision has also put both Zimbabwe’s men and women teams’ participation in the qualifiers for their respective T20 World Cup in jeopardy.

“The ICC had also awarded Zimbabwe the right to host another global qualifier event next, but that now hangs in the balance. In all this, players and staff are bearing the brunt of the standoff and they might be forced to go for months or forever without their salaries and match fees,” the ZC statement said.

A number of Zimbabwean cricketers have expressed shock over the ICC’s call, including Sikandar Raza and Peter Moor. All-rounder Solomon Mire has even announced his retirement from international cricket in the wake of the ICC’s decision. The ZC also said in its statement that it would like to see its team playing again at the earliest and that the board is ready to cooperate with the SRC and other stakeholders.