LONDON, July 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — International cricket chiefs suspended Zimbabwe over a failure to keep the sport free from government
interference, throwing into doubt their participation in qualifiers for the
T20 World Cup.
The decision means International Cricket Council funding to Zimbabwe
Cricket will be frozen and representative teams from the country will not be allowed to participate in any ICC events.
The punishment comes after the Zimbabwe Cricket Board was suspended by the government last month and replaced with an interim committee.
“The ICC has directed that the elected Zimbabwe Cricket Board be reinstated to office within three months, and progress in this respect will be
considered again at the October board meeting,” the ICC said in a statement.
“The ICC board heard from both the sports and recreation committee
representatives of the Zimbabwe government and Zimbabwe Cricket before making their decision.”
ICC chairman Shashank Manohar said: “We do not take the decision to suspend a member lightly but we must keep our sport free from political interference.
“What has happened in Zimbabwe is a serious breach of the ICC constitution and we cannot allow it to continue unchecked.
“The ICC wants cricket to continue in Zimbabwe in accordance with the ICC
constitution.”
Zimbabwe were due to compete in the men’s World T20 qualifiers in October and November and the women’s qualifiers starting in late August but their participation is now unclear.
Political turmoil within the sport and a string of humiliating performances
led Zimbabwe to suspend their involvement in Test cricket in 2005 although
they continued to play one-day internationals and Twenty20 (T20)
internationals at the highest level.
They returned to Test cricket in 2011 but are languishing in 10th place in
the rankings.
They are 12th in the one-day international rankings and did not take part
in the just-concluded World Cup in England and Wales.
The Croatia Cricket Federation and the Zambia Cricket Union have both also
been suspended for continuing non-compliance with ICC membership criteria while the Moroccan Royal Cricket Federation has been expelled over continuing non-compliance. — NNN-AGENCIES
