I almost hung myself: Makhaya Ntini

Just days after lashing out at the Indian team selectors for sending a second string squad for the tour of Zimbabwe, Makhaya Ntini has lashed out at his own players stating that their performance made him want to ‘hang himself’ to death. The Indians crushed Zimbabwe once again in the second ODI by eight wickets and went on to claim an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match ODI series.

Ntini, who serves as the bowling coach for the Zimbabwe side had earlier stated that the Zimbabwe bowling attack would roll the Indian batting lineup ‘under the carpet’. However, he was left to eat his words as the Indians crushed the Zimbabweans in the first two ODIs by a country mile.

“I almost hung myself,” Ntini was quoted as saying by AFP.

“If there was a tomato tree outside I would have hung myself in that tomato tree.”

Also read – CricToon: Makhaya Ntini apologises to Indian fans

Unlike the first ODI, Vusi Sibanda and Chamu Chibhabha stitched an impressive 67-run stand. The former also went on to smash a valiant 53, becoming the only player in the match to score a half-century. However, despite his efforts, the home side was bowled out for a paltry 126.

“It’s no good. We have experienced players with us who can easily read the game. We were in a perfect position.”

“We want to compete with the big boys. We’re creating a new venture here.

“We want to make sure that this country gets to play more games, and if you send us a team that is not your strongest team, we’re going to put them under the carpet so that they go home and tell people that they need to send their strongest team,” Ntini was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo.

However, after a feeble showing against the Indian side, disappointed Zimbabwe fans at the stadium, held placards to stage something of a protest against their players. One of the placards read: “We cannot support disaster, calamity and quagmire of epic proportions.”