Raza to play for Biratnagar warriors (Nepal EPL t-20)

CrimsonAvenger wrote: ↑Tue Aug 31, 2021 5:37 am

Amazing how he continues to gets these gigs - good for him! Shows that you can do well in some format on a decent world stage and the world takes notice and you get your chances for a while. He has never managed to do well internationally for Zim in T20Is, but continues to get picked in these leagues.

Kind of strange how he doesn't have much to show in T20Is though despite being good in tests and ODIs, similar to Moor having some good knocks in Tests and T20Is but not ODIs.

I find it very odd actually. Even his overall T20 record is not global t20 material. A strike rate of about 120 is not what you expect from your T20 finisher.

The next person I see getting gigs is Burl but he will need to work on some attacking offside shots. Sloan was the person who insisted for years that Burl can clear the ropes and I must say he was right. Some of the sixes he is hitting these days are absolutely massive. Him and PJ might be the cleanest hitters we have.

The last Zim player I saw hit a 6 as big as the first one he hit on Sunday was the Greek himself. In fact if we want to get the best out of Burl I think he has to be a lot higher up the order. On Sunday he had time on his side, once he settles he can be very dangerous.

secretzimbo wrote: ↑Tue Aug 31, 2021 9:26 am

Yeah it’s crazy how he gets these gigs, T20 probably his weakest format and his record is poor. Might be controversial this, but have to wonder if he was a black zimbo with a Shona name would he have ever have got these T20 gigs? Or is it just because he stands out and is therefore well known around the world as the brown zimbo?

Nonetheless it’s good news and hopefully he goes well!

yeah it is really nonsensical. someone like muzarabani or BT would be much more useful. WIlliams even imo

I just think they should have never retired 2 specific players. That's where they got it wrong. It should have been a rotation policy. I have watched a few T20i's this year and almost every single country is rotating in that format. Some countries are even sending 3rd string teams. Even when the likes of India visit us they rotate.

If we honestly look at the European tour, 2 players greatly benefited. Ngarava and Shumba. If BT and Raza had played and Blessing wasn't injured initially, they would have never been put in pressure situations like what happened. We always complain that our domestic structure is weak. As much as I disagreed with how they did it, the idea is correct.

Bubble fatigue players a huge role too. They were in a bubble for 3 weeks before they left, then on tour for 6 weeks. Imagine being in your mid-30s, away from your family for 2 months only for you to play 2 games and get 1 washed out.

T20s are going to be the most played format going forward. Cricket is changing. You can already see it with how a player who started his career last year (Wes) has played twice as many T20 as he has ODIs. We barely play test cricket too so banning somebody from T20s is semi-retiring them these days.

ZIMDOGGY wrote: ↑Tue Sep 28, 2021 8:52 am

They all seem very cut up by the omission from the T20s.

But by ZC travesty levels this is one of the lower crimes.

But I guess players want to play.

There are some further thoughts though.

Why did the oldest of the fab 4 survive the cut?

Especially when it wasn’t a long time ago people thought he didn’t make the team on merit. He does, but people questioned it.

Secondly, this could be about cash.

Someone mentioned that BTs newer contract was structured against games played?

If that theory is true that could explain everything really, because he could’ve signed the contract with the understanding that he would be selected for those matches, and they’re probably more of those matches the normal one dayers.

It also explains something Sean said about messing with the team’s livelihood when he quit and was reinstated

Wasnt around then but why did people question Ervine`s place? He has underperformed imo but who could have possibly replaced him back then? His domestic stats are pretty good.

CrimsonAvenger wrote: ↑Tue Sep 28, 2021 4:09 pm

The more I think about it, the more it looks like Rajput is more of a collateral damage as the big four, for some reason, don't want to train their guns directly on ZC itself or even towards Masakadza. Or they are tactically using Rajput's name as a way to make their displeasure felt about ZC. At worst, Rajput could be an incompetent yes-man for ZC. Why should that drive players to retirement - the target should be ZC, isn't it?

Unless there are no concrete issues mentioned attributable to Rajput and Rajput alone and not ZC, how could one just assume everything is wrong with Rajput? I'm willing to change this stance, but for now, it looks like an ugly mudslinging between the fab 4 and a few at ZC and Rajput seems to be caught in this crossfire.

P.S. Not saying this as an Indian and I have no idea if Rajput has contributed anything at all towards the growth of cricketers in Zim anyway, but to make him look like a villain without clearly stating how he has directly contributed to this disaffection among the seniors, or not waiting for him to put forth his side of the story (if at all) just does not sound correct.

I guess if you ignore the results of his tenure and the words from Willow about how he has created a bad culture within the team that has resulted in plenty of back chatter and decisions being made to undermine the squad, then you have a point.

You're not wrong about the root cause being ZC, but Rajput has not done his job. He has not bettered the team, nor has he done anything significant to develop them. The young players who came through were always going to come through, he has just been fortunate to be the coach at the time of it happening.

Your last paragraph is telling.

CrimsonAvenger wrote: ↑Wed Sep 29, 2021 1:44 am

zimbos_05 wrote: ↑Tue Sep 28, 2021 10:45 pm

Your last paragraph is telling.

Not sure I got that. All I meant was, I would have said the same thing if the guy was a Whatmore or a Klusener or whoever else it was.

You mention that you have no idea, but then take a stance on it defending Rajput.

I think it was clear from Willos initial retirement how he has affected morale. He clearly said that the manager has disenfranchised players and created a disharmonious environment.

If anything, Rajputs record as Zim coach is enough to be fired.