Antum Naqvi

[Googly]

Unless there's opportunity to obtain a passport through investment in Zim its a very long wait for Citizenship.
A lot of countries do offer citizenship if you're prepared to make a substantial investment, but I don't know if Zim do.

[Googly]

I was curious and made some calls. 500k apparently legitimately buys you a green mamba.
Deposit the cash, list an investment opportunity you wish to pursue and there's a small waiting period. Of course you kiss most of that money goodbye, but not all.

[Pat_Bee]

500k hey.

Can’t knock his commitment at all.

I’m yet to be convinced though, Pakistanis just have shady written all over them even Raza looks like he’s up to no good half the time.

[Train Driver]

I can't see a single reason for not allowing him to play, nationality rules are a total bag of shit everywhere, why should Zim worry when no other country does, my daughter has a couple of chihuahuas which give all of us in the family joint Mexican/UK nationality and shares in any illicit drug manufacturer the police aren't already running

[Googly]

Pretty sure it's not a ZC thing, if or when he gets his passport he will be up for selection. Pops just has to kiss a few more hundred grand away.
There are two issues- firstly he clearly wants to get on a T10 or T20 circuit so there's a clash with ZC looming there if a tournament coincides with a national game.
They give Raza some rope and may well give Knackerville some as well if Pops continues to oil the wheels. We've got one globe trotting player already (who's earned the right), is there room for another playboy?
It would be a lot cheaper for the Naqvi family if he just joined the family business or became an uber driver. They must be in the hole for at least a bar so far You're supposed to at least break even if you play for Zim, not go down a bar before you start
Secondly, someone gets dropped to make room. Who might that be? Top to middle order batter who offers spin, mmmmm....

[TapsC2]

After Muyeye miraculously got asylum and then the ECB considered fast tracking his eligibility I stopped caring. Get him in the team. I have my suspicions that they encouraged him to apply.for asylum too.

So far it looks like he will bat at 3 and the problem is I don't think anyone outside the big 3 is better than him. So all the kids will have to shift around for him. If Craig doesn't retire soon then I see Wes hitting the bench for this guy. That's the obvious straight swap with Welch and Craig opening. Williams at 4 and Raza at 5.

[TapsC2]

Wes has the shock of his life coming his way if he doesn't pull his socks up soon.

[secretzimbo]

Look if the guy does 3 years full-time residency then, as per the ICC regs, thats kosher. Or Halal. Maybe I can just about cope with it and accept him then.

As of now he has only done 2 month continuous residency which means he shouldn't be playing for Zim until September 2026.

The alternative is that ZC/the authorities fudge the rules and hand him a passport almost immediately because he's paying a lot of money and/or we are desperate for a decent player.

That I can not get behind. That is bending the rules. There are few if any similar comparisons anywhere in world cricket. That would be a disgrace. We'd be furious with any other country for doing it.

[Pat_Bee]

Assuming old Knackerville and Raz make up the murungu quota and aren’t in the team at the expense of the takashinga crew?

Burl and Williams are the most like for like I guess or Raz himself. No way golden boy Wez will get the chop.

Muyeye ECB saw him coming a mile off. Didn’t they half their criteria from 7 to 3.5 years to fastrack Jofra and look how that panned out. Tawanda will be just as flash in the pan but they’ll persist.

[Googly]

I'm betting they're going for the investment passport. The minute he gets that he's eligible. He's not waiting 3 years and anyway you have to demonstrate you've been in country for 10 months of the year unless there's exceptional circumstances.
Who will be vaguely irritated is Raza. He waited 10 years for his. The passport will realistically take about 12 months I reckon. Pops will be desperate for Knackerville to be in the T20 WC. Whoever fast tracks that green mamba is going to be styling like Ginimbi.
All the batters are theoretically at risk except for Williams and Raza.
Namely Madhevere, Ervine, Burl and whoever the 2 openers are.
Also puts Welly Masakadza in the firing line coz the guy spins as well and is a better bat.
Wonder if Knackerville has thought of keeping?
Now if Pops could also get into the national coaching set up then Dave and Matsi could also be on the block.
The only guy who's made more waves of late is Trump.