Cricinfo Zimbabwe



home Slogout Game Fantasy Video Cricinfo 3D Betting Shop Help and Feedback



Zimbabwe


News

Features

Photos

Fixtures

Domestic Competitions

Domestic History

Players/Officials

Grounds

Records

Daily Newsletter



 

Live Scorecards
Fixtures | Results
3D Animation
India v Australia
Bangladesh v N Zealand
Stanford 20/20 for 20
ICC Intercontinental Cup
ICC WCL Division 4
Indian Cricket League
Current and Future Tours
News
Photos | Wallpapers
Cricinfo Magazine
Match/series archive
Records
Statsguru
Players/Officials
Grounds
Women's Cricket
ICC
Rankings/Ratings
Wisden Almanack
Games
Fantasy Cricket
Slogout
Daily Newsletter
Toolbar
Widgets



The Zimbabwe crisis

Yet again Zimbabwe board fails to hold meeting

Our special correspondent in Harare

December 1, 2005



Peter Chingoka: failure to raise a quorum shows 'who the real enemies of the game or people with ultra motives are' © Getty Images
Attempts by Zimbabwe Cricket to hold a board meeting grew increasingly farcical as yet another scheduled gathering was cancelled at short notice. There has still not been a legitimate meeting since the controversial AGM almost three months ago.

On Thursday, Peter Chingoka, the embattled ZC chairman, called board members and told them that once again he had failed to obtain the quorum necessary to enable Saturday's meeting to proceed. But Cricinfo has established that seven officials, including some provincial chairmen, had actually committed themselves to attending and Chingoka would have been the eighth, which would have completed the quorum. An insider suggested that the latest cancellation was a move by the pro-Chingoka faction on the board - primarily Tavengwa Mukuhlani, Cyprian Mandenge and Wilson Manase - fearing that the chairman and Ozias Bvute, the managing director, could face a tough time.

On Wednesday, Clive Field, the players' representative, met with the government-appointed Sports and Recreation Committee as the commission continued with its stakeholders' investigation aimed at resolving the crisis. The commission asked the players to have faith in them, and they responded by agreeing to stay put for a few weeks while monitoring progress.

"We were well-received. They understood our concerns," said Field. "They have asked us to give them time to do a report and make recommendations. The players are prepared are prepared to stick around. But we explained to them that time was running away, and we need to move in a way that will not make cricket collapse."

The news of the cancellation comes on the day that the Herald quoted Chingoka as calling on the board members to appear at the meeting. "I am saying if the provincial chairmen really have cricket at heart as they claim then they should attend," he said. "Their continued absence will not only delay the solving of a number of outstanding issues, it will also show who the real enemies of the game or people with ultra motives are.

"On my part, I have been making myself available for meetings but there is nothing I could do without a quorum. I don't make unilateral decisions but everything has been collectively done and even the response to the provincial associations should also be a collective responsibility.

"There have been some attempts to isolate me and hold me responsible for board decisions yet such decisions have involved others on the board. That collective responsibility must also apply in our response to the provincial associations."

Chingoka also claimed that the "players haven't signed contracts because there is need to clarify which exchange rate to use on their remuneration and it's an issue the ZC management has referred to the board for guidance." The players, however, would counter that the contracts are a side issue. They want Chingoka and Bvute out, and on Tuesday released a statement stating that they would not play for Zimbabwe while the pair remained at the helm, as well as supporting former captain Tatenda Taibu.

The latest cancellation also leaves the game in limbo. It was hoped that a new national captain would be chosen, with it being a choice between Andy Blignaut and Hamilton Masakadza, and also confirmation of the new selection panel originally picked in September but subsequently voided when it was found that meeting had been unconstitutional.

An Special General Meeting is scheduled for December 23 when ZC will try to pass its highly-controversial move to create five new provinces. If it succeeds, then the faction supporting Chingoka will almost certainly have enough muscle to regain control of the board and be able to quash the attempted rebellion by some provincial chairmen. The players, however, seem more determined to see the back of Chingoka and Bvute, and they, and the investigations into the board, could be the decisive factors in the battle for the future of cricket in Zimbabwe.

 
Post this story on your favourite website Email this page to a friend Print this page Feedback
NEW FANTASY: India v Australia Test series - prizes to be won
Enter now - series starts October 9
    Watch our daily Cricinfo SportsCenter news round-ups
Available on Cricinfo.tv
    Live scores, news & ball-by-ball commentary on your phone
Cricinfo Mobile



Related Links



In Focus

Stories

Players/Umpires

Teams






Cricinfo Products
NEW FANTASY: India v Australia Test series
Enter to win prizes
Scores, text comms & news on your phone
Cricinfo Mobile
Play Slogout - our cricket action simulation game
Two formats to choose from
Add a Cricinfo Widget to your website now
Portable apps for your site
 
Sponsored Links
Get a free night with Holiday Inn
Click above for details
Renault Koleos. 4x4 Outside Renault Inside
Click above for details
England's Summer of Cricket 2008 DVD
Pre-order at Cricshop
Bet now on the India v Australia Test series
Fixed odds at bet365
 


 
Top 5 player searches
Most read stories