Pakistan Tour of Zimbabwe | T20i - ODI Series 2024

[secretzimbo]

There’s about 10 players who can feel aggrieved.

I hope we lose 3-0 and I can’t believe I’m actually saying that. Never thought I’d reach that point.

[Googly]

Losing to Pakistan and Afghanistan will be no great shakes or tremors for the ZC board. It might mean curtains for Salamander but mutendera and co will continue on.

Well it will depend how badly we lose (assuming we do) and how individual players perform. As Raza said, the younger guys probably read a lot of the social media and feel the pressure from that. I mean that's unnecessary pressure over and above what's already a lot. He mentioned one guy who deleted his social media- I assume that must be Wes. It can't be nice reading really negative stuff all the time.
Everyone wants to be loved and nasty comments must be tough to field on a daily basis. You need to grow a thick skin, or have some good games to silence the armchair critics. His mental health must be upside down, I really feel for the poor guy.

The one alarming thing in that Raza podcast was LK tentatively suggesting that perhaps something should be done about free speech
That's Biden, Starmer, Zanu, Putin, Kim Jong Un tactics right there. I couldn't believe i was hearing that.

I'd be really surprised if Salamander and his crew got bulleted after 2 bad series, that would be unfair. It would be a bit deserved if they're willing to coach anyone that's put in front of them though.
I've heard they're pretty good, but its early days. If ZC felt pressure to make an example that would be an expensive one. They have a long history of owing international coaches money. It's hundreds of thousands by now I'd think.
It's cheaper to replace the selectors , but of course that would be an admission of guilt/error and that would be a cold day in hell first.

We need to dissect that a little. The grim determination to have Mutendira as convener is weird. Are they telling him what to do? Who are THEY exactly? I mean how hands on is Mukhulani? Ive actually heard he's an approachable decent guy from quite a few people.
Are " they" relying on him to do what they want without having to tell him because hes miraculously on the same page? Where does the Faraz saga factor in here?
Who's involved in this particular selection because that requires a few people to be on the same page. You'd think Mukhu would step in and say ffs enuf guys... and give the cars back it's embarrassing.
What makes a very average bowler and an angry school coach who barely watches a franchise game the right selector, let alone convener, when you have a guy like Houghton on the books? I mean the man has a pedigree like a prize Brahman Bull. He can spot the good guys from a distance.
What is it they actually fear, because fear is a factor?
What is it they want to prove, because that's also a factor?
There's nothing to protect or guard. That bird has flown. The attempted coup was a one off and that won't be revisited. They're safe with the millions until we get downgraded, but by then the nests will have been feathered multiple times, even the small house nests will be shiny.

Reading between the lines from Raza's podcast it actually looks like these teams are settled and they want them together until the WC. I'm not sure how Raza buys into that in good conscience, but he ain't sticking his neck out for anyone He's got a legacy and a book to write. Will he be the first guy to get a benefit year?

Imagine not being under pressure to win though!
I mean we're in a position where a competitive loss is more than acceptable.
Houghton was the one under who's tenure we had a host of critical qualifying games that we HAD to win.

They're not being honest about the stats. They're using that excuse when it suits. They'll use the form excuse when that suits as well.
If they want to be even handed give everyone these 3 series. If the questionable guys fail then give the next group, who are better by a distance the same two years. We will have a stronger team by a big margin.
Dare I say we might be competitive now and then.

[PommiePom]

I know I’m missing a trick here, but if the big wigs are driven by lining their pockets, wouldn’t they pick the best team? Maximises chances of winning, getting more tours against good teams, better deals for streaming rights etc.

[TapsC2]

I know I’m missing a trick here, but if the big wigs are driven by lining their pockets, wouldn’t they pick the best team? Maximises chances of winning, getting more tours against good teams, better deals for streaming rights etc.

This is a very good question. For me I think it boils down to incompetence. They genuinely don't know what they are doing. It's a real curse on this continent. Just as bad as corruption in my books. A lot of these guys are actually convinced they are doing the right thing.

[Googly]

You have to wonder. They claim games/series cost hundreds of thousands to host...unless its India, and they've given up with their charitable tours.

The million dollar question is will our strongest side be that different? We've fallen so far behind now it's going to be almost impossible to play catch up.

A best case scenario would be our strongest side taking a few years to get up to speed, much like when we originally got our test status.
We'd need everyone pulling together...
And we'd need to find a Flower or two, a Goodwin, a Streak, a Houghton, an Olonga, a Strang, a Johnson, a Price etc etc.
I mean if you look at it like that we're pretty jigged. Those guys were sharp, and there were a lot of them.

What players do we have that are, or could be world class with hard work and dedication and support?
I have my list, but its not that long.

[TapsC2]

I also don't buy the "human" aspect of it. This is an elite sport. Imagine the kind of pressure the likes of Babar Azam were under at some points this year. People crying over social media pressure should not be expected to take us over the line in do or die games. The results show this.

Every single successful sports team has a cut throat mentality. This is a massive problem we now have at ZC. From the day Ballance walked out on us or when I think about Cremer really letting that qualifier be his last game ever for us. To Panyangara sending videos of Johnson's bouncers a decade ago. Now guys can't even handle social media posts.

Yes they are human but they are literally being paid to play a sport they love. It's ridiculous. Other sports would kill to get the funding cricket gets in this country. Maybe we need to lose that funding for us to ever find our feet again

[Googly]

The heroes that got us test status from nothing no longer exist. Those guys played for their country for free in an unbelievably fantastic club environment. Literally hundreds of really good cricketers from dozens of schools.

Nothing of consequence has been created or built since Independence..and nothing will.
The list of stuff that has been broken or stolen would fill a book.

If we lose our funding it's boozers' league. Finished.

[Googly]

And who's being paid what?
I think we'd faint if we knew who was and wasn't being paid what.

[Pat_Bee]

Being better would bring more dollar to cream off, but that’s long term. These guys aren’t murungus who’d invest with Fidelity for a sweet retirement in 30 years. They’re African chiefs who want the riches now. They’d rather be millionaires today than billionaires in the future

Social media it comes with the territory. Everyone became an armchair expert in everything with the advent of Facebook. If you can’t handle an armchair expert giving his “expert” opinion on your game, then you’re in the wrong game my friend.

[Googly]

There's a phone in thing on social media right now, people are upset.