Government agency suspends Zimbabwe cricket board over irregularities

In a blow to cricket in Zimbabwe, the country’s government-run agency Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) has suspended Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) in the wake of a spate of controversies. The suspension came with immediate effect. Along with the body, ZC acting managing director Givemore Makoni has also been suspended from his post, as per a press release that came out on Friday. Zimbabwe, who missed out from the ongoing ICC World Cup in England and Wales, are playing the Netherlands in a short series featuring two ODIs and as many T20Is. The Africans have lost both the 50-overs games so far.

The SRC’s move came a week after it issued a directive seeking suspension of the ZC’s electoral process following complaints about the nomination method and the violation of the cricket body’s constitution and “various other controversies”. The board, formerly called Zimbabwe Cricket Union, overlooked the directive. The SRC said it was forced to act after several allegations of violations of the constitution and other controversies surfaced.

“It cannot be in national interest that a national sporting association continues to conduct itself in a manner that it suggests that it and its officials are a law unto themselves,” the release said.

“Certain of its office bearers, past and present, have been the subject matter of allegations involving fraud exchange control violations and other acts of corruption and criminality related to the monies and assets of Zimbabwe Cricket and the International Cricket Council.”

ZC also accused of ignoring game infrastructure

Running of the game also came under the scanner and it was alleged that the ZC was not only disregarding its constitution but also overlooking the development of the game and related infrastructure.

The release also said that people like David Ellman-Brown, Charlie Robertson, Cyprian Mandenge, Ahmed Ibrahim, Robertson Chinyengetere, Duncan Frost and Sekesai Nhokwara were announced as part of an interim committee to run the sport in Zimbabwe as of now.

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Zimbabwe is known for its disturbed political scene which has in the past affected the cricket as well. Prominent players have left the country in the past because of political disturbance, leaving the game’s future in distress.