Lifting of ZC suspension on the 8th

Regarding that letter-

I don’t think I said I knew the answer to that, if there was even such a letter. I’d guess there was because there would have been much politicking over the last few months. It would be quicker to guess who’d abstained.

Taps you’re right about the salary issue. These big differences in the salaries is less objectionable to guys from Third World countries, it’s what is wrong with the world in general. The ECB regulation is that a starter county contract is around £2.2k a month, I think a summer contract is around £1.2k. I think an Englishman, Aussie or New Zealander in ICC would object sooner to our ridiculous FC packages and discrepancies than someone from the sub-continent where the huge inequalities are the accepted norm- if you’re the boss you get the lion’s share, if you’re a worker then take it or leave it. It’s glum resignation and why no one will stick their necks out to change things and why it’s so easy to divide and rule and coerce someone into accepting the unacceptable.

All that had to be said to the players to terrify them was-

If this interim board gets in

1. They’re cutting this to 3 franchises

2. X,Y and Z players will come back, reducing available contracts by a further x amount.

3. They will cut squad sizes from 20 to 15.

4. Central contracts will be cut.

5. Going forward there will be less opportunities for black players, we’re going back to the 80’s and 90’s

6. Clubs won’t be supported.

7. No clubs without a home ground.

8. There will be an all white franchise.

9. They will bring back white coaches/managers

I’m fairly sure had there been a coup they would have sacked about a quarter of the players, most of whom shouldn’t really be there anyway. Well they need to be there because we are so short of players, but all things being equal a lot of guys aren’t good enough to classify as pros.

They could say anything along these lines that would cause alarm and despondency to guys’ immediate future.

Any combo of the above would have gotten players scrambling for their pens. When you’re on the breadline anyway and figure you’ve got 4 or 5 years of cricket left in you and the status quo is acceptable when compared to an uncertain future it’s a no brainer.

In my opinion this Board is not reforming nor turning anything around. They’re under pressure to now, but they’re going to blame the economy and sanctions 😂

and we will be back to normal dismal operations quicker than you can blink.

What would that interim board have done?

Although it’s unproven I’d put my family jewels on a block that at the very least they would have rehashed that Metbank loan. We’re now never going to see the real accounts of anything and the accusations of misappropriation will never be proven or disproven. ICC have been presented with enough information over the years and have done nothing, which was the reason why SRC got involved in the first place, it was not just a personal vendetta as ZC are suggesting. The only reason they hung on is because they’ve got a lot to hide and everything to lose. Anyway that chapter is closed and I believe we’ve lost out on substantial funds that we desperately need.

Would they get players back here?

I have my doubts. They’d be shooting for a small handful of unproven young guys that have other options and would not come back to uncertainty and a failed country. What would you offer a young unproven guy? There would be an uproar, and the likes of Byrom and Welch have futures in County, hard earned as well. Muyeye is the guy they need and they need to make sure Myers and a couple of the other youngsters don’t leave.

Would the DEB board cut the franchises?

Maybe, or at least reduce the squad sizes and they’d definitely cut some of the dead wood. The current Board’s philosophy is half feed more people, and it works! Everyone seems ok with that.

Would the DEB Board have enticed corporate sponsorship?

Absolutely. Not much because the economy is shagged, but it would come and it would grow. There would be more outside interest and they’d also do a hugely better job of marketing, social media and TV rights. I’d guarantee black corporate interest! They trust this board as much as the rest of us. There’s not much white corporate left anyway.

Would the DEB board have tried to make clubs independent?

Yes- -and this would have been a painful but necessary process. My pet hate being roaming clubs of no fixed abode.

Would the DEB board organize more games?

Yes, at every single level!!

Would the DEB board have gotten some white coaches and admin back?

Here we’re talking Streak, Campbell, Taibu and Flower specifically. This would have been contentious, but I believe they would have, but would have been mindful of opinion. There’s absolutely a role for Campbell, he’s got a lot of clout and we need an A side with top coaches.

Would there have been an all white franchise?

No never, but we need more white players and they will only come or stick around if they believe that they have representation at administrative level. They rightfully don’t trust this board or previous ones. I’d personally like to see a predominately white franchise, if they like each other’s company why not, they’re not plotting a coup. Why do we need white players? Because we keep producing some really good ones, but losing them.

I could pick a mostly white franchise side that would never ever lose a game here in any format against any opposition and that would cause the 4th Chimurenga and nobody wants to see that because it proves racism and maladministration of the highest order has existed for years. They just swapped the racism out and everyone is ok with it. Sadly it’s the acid test of what has happened to our cricket and a further acid test of where the nation is at is would the public find that acceptable? We all know the answer to that one. We’ve still got a way to go as a nation. It’s hypothetical but would Zimbabwe prefer a competitive 9/11 white team or a 4/7 team that gets dry humped all day every day? The answer is very simple- everyone will clamor for the competitive team...for about 5 games only, and then the allegations of racial bias would start all over again, proving most people have learnt Jack s**t.

How would the other franchises do against a young side comprising of

Byrom, B Curran, Muyeye, Welch, Burl, Myers, Murray, S Curran, Evans, Hopper, Snater, Lake? Let’s not forget young Goodwin, a superstar in the making.

Or a heavyweight side like

Byrom, Ballance, Cartwright, Taylor, Ervine, Williams, De Grandhomme, S Curran, T Curran etc

I’ll tell you what, the other franchise side’s openers or a Zim A side’s openers could bat twice and they’d still get smashed against this second side!

The cold truth is that only a handful of people believe in this board, amongst the others there’s genuine fear of an upheaval that won’t suit individuals. There’s this perception that whites in numbers constitute a threat and a barrier. There’s some truth in that, as much as black guys gravitate to one another so do we, some would call it cultural bias and the disingenuous would call it a racial bias. It’s all about tolerance and us Zimbos have all travelled a long road in this regard. There are more black folk that live in the past than there are whites, we know our boundaries and as a fact there aren’t any for the black guys, they can say and do as they like with complete impunity. The day we see a black guy get it for racism here or SA will be a cold day in hell and I don’t think it will happen in our lifetimes. A vast section of people don’t think there is such a thing as black on white racism, that’s how f***ed up the situation is. We’ve got much bigger problems than race to deal with now though, but there’s a small section that will play the card to suit forever more.

Single figures

Why Muddy, why? 😂

Black Mamba wrote: ↑Sat Oct 12, 2019 7:34 am

Ban will be lifted...but big question wheather culprits will be punished whose actions caused Zimbabwe to miss global tournament like T20 Qualifiers.

He jeopardized our membership and asked for us to be suspended to hang onto power at any cost and nothing will happen to him.

It’s a bit early to get the knives out for Markram, TDB and Bavuma. Only a top side is going to hold their own in India, let alone win.

Markram still averages 40 and Bavuma will probably get a stay of execution. I actually like Bavuma as a bat, he’s a decent player and a superb fielder, but in an ordinary world he’d be sent down. Cricket is a horrible sport when things are not going your way, each failure makes the next outing doubly difficult.

They’ve got Hamza and Klaasen in the wings, not sure who else.

When you’re in a weakened side it makes it so hard to perform, which just shows that although it’s individual, it’s also a team game.

What a reminder of how good Flower was!! He must have had the strongest mind in world cricket.

The real test for these guys will be the next home series.

That tiff between Rabada and De Kock is being brushed aside by the South African commentators, but I think there’s a bit more to it than that, theirs is not a happy dressing room. Also I mentioned the really poor body language Du Plessis had when he was talking to Nkwe (the coach).

I did say that we could mark the date of their demise at the WC, not that that makes me a soothsayer, for us on the ground that have lived through what’s happening down there it’s obvious how it’s going to end, it’s only about the depth of s**t and how long it will take.

I've seen a bit of Hamza on TV and he looks a pretty good player. South Africa are wasting time on De Bruyn and Bavuma, instead Hamza and Van Der Dussen should be in the line up.

Well that’s when you hand pick selectors that can be manipulated by people from the outside who have an agenda. We’re way past that, but CSA are actually slightly different...so far. They are used to winning and know they at least have players to put up a fight. Maybe a good beating will make those people with agendas back off a bit.

chesterton wrote: ↑Sat Oct 12, 2019 2:12 pm

Can somebody please update me on what the quota rule is now?

It’s changed a bit.

Last I heard was you needed 6 non whites in the team and at least two have to be African American. But averaged out over a year?

I heard something recently that they are concerned only black bowlers are being churned out so they might introduce a rule that at least one batsman in the national team needs to be African American too? Because they aren’t getting a go at present.

16 posts left