As bad as it's been ?

[sloandog]

Well gents, it's happened. The cricket apocalypse that our prophet Googly has warned us about, is taking place right now as I type. No funding, no sponsors, unbranded trophies, currently no domestic set up and more importantly, no players. The Mountaineers are said to have been unable to pull together a squad and unable to offer any meaningful contracts to their players, likewise with the Rocks (who have been the most financially hindered franchise for a while now).

High calibre players have no left the scene, including Chakabva and stuart matskinyeri!, who has been an ever present on the Zimbabwe circuit for the past decade; a player who has stuck with Zimbabwe through thick and thin. If he has now left, or at least getting ready to do so, what does that now say about the current situation ? Surely, this must be the worst we've ever been. At least during the rebel saga there was some kind of sponsorship and a crop of exciting under 19 players to baptise with fire against the touring English, Australian and Sri Lankan sides! Now, the cupboard is well and truly bare, with a bunch of white players we can struggle to count on one hand, and the exciting black players and black ever presents leaving. How on earth has it got this bad ? In 2010 there was sponsorship, a thriving domestic scene including the T20 Cup, which attracted players like Tait, Lara and Gayle. Kits, both internationally has character and flare. Players were fighting for places in that squad; guys like Lamb, Butterworth, Matskinyeri, even Nathan Waller and Charles Coventry were beginning to get a sniff on the A tours.

2011 was even better with the arrival of the first test back and the victory. Coca cola came in, sponsored us, alongside Castle and even REEBOK! Players like Bliggy and even Grant Flower returned to the scene very briefly, when players like Ewing and Meth were struggling to get into the side due to the competition for paces.

Reverse ALL that now, and fast forward to 2014 nearly! No players,no money, no sponsorship, and no future since our so called Under 19's are practically on the plain to England after their final world cup game.

Say a prayer for our Cricket inside Zimbabwe; it may not last to much longer

[Jemisi]

It has reached this stage because the players have been playing for promises rather than pay. That has lasted for a very long time, but they have all realised that none is now likely to be coming. The hope of 2010 was also associated with the return of some better economic conditions. With the entrenchment of ZANU and a return to desperate economic situation generally within Zim, there is absolutely no currency in any promise emanating from ZC about future pay.

Some players can play on because they love the game and they may be able to afford to do so as the amateurs of old once did, but they will be doing that with eyes open.

In fact as we have seen from the under age tours, all of the theft and mismanagement at ZC may just bring about a return to cricket being an elite sport for the monied upper classes.

Whether they can gather 60 players together for a first class comp to maintain test status is a tough ask.

[Jemisi]

Pretty much if any ZCF members have some kit and are willing to play for free, they may get to have a FC career of some sort. Just turn up eager and ready to go at training, (and it wouldn't hurt to bring some balls along too).

[Googly]

In fact as we have seen from the under age tours, all of the theft and mismanagement at ZC may just bring about a return to cricket being an elite sport for the monied upper classes

There's no such thing. The economy is shredded. The big corporates have had no interest in cricket anyway, but in these harsh times it's not even possible even if there was a will. I can tell you as a fact that more than 80% of the pupils from the elite schools are on payment plans. The schools themselves have adopted an incredibly harsh policy this year and do not tolerate late payments at all. 2014 is going to be very interesting because the situation is getting worse quickly and if these schools continue with their hard line stance they are going to be short of pupils. You are going to see more and more white (and black) pupils that were previously at private schools now enrolling in the better government schools. In fact I know that Borrowdale Junior school now has a number of white kids enrolling in it. Some parents have clubbed together and have fixed the pool, repainted buildings, improving the grounds etc. I'm sure you'll see a growing trend of this. I can't think of too many government schools that are going to fit the bill though. Borrowdale Junior, Prince Edward, maybe Highlands Junior and perhaps Vainona High.

The going rate for all the top day schools is around $2800. The top boarding schools are $4500-$5000 a term.
The better government schools are around $350, I'm not sure what their boarding fees are.
Most white families have 2-3 kids. Three kids at day school would equate to around $8500 a term. This is before the extras. The families I know say it costs around $1200-$1500 a month to own a child and give it a private school education. A family with 3 kids needs to net about $4000 a month just to school their kids. When you factor in vehicles and fuel, food, rent, insurance, lights and water, phones, etc etc you are looking at requiring a net income of around $8000 just to survive. This is a crazy amount and there are very few people managing it. Harare apparently is now the 3rd most expensive city in the world!!

I have heard from a very reliable source that this whole indigenization thing is going to quietly go away, which is a big bonus. I am doubting this but it does come from a top source. Our Minister of Mines is currently in China trying to get more investment, which is disastrous. These people are the scourge of Africa and when Governments finally work this out it's going to be too late. This is my own personal issue but to systematically disenfranchise white people who have lived here their whole lives and who have pride in their country and want to see it improve and to replace them with Chinese is a hideous mistake.

I envisage many families leaving Zimbabwe next year, if they have the option. The fact is when their kids eventually leave school and go to university they are really unlikely to ever come back here, except on holiday. There are no opportunities here anymore. The rest of the world is not that easy either, but this place is especially difficult. I know of a few parents looking at cricket scholarship opportunities for their boys. The top schools in the UK have some especially scary fees, around $50 000 a year before extras!!! Even if some of these kids get a 70% scholarship (unlikely!) it equates to the parents still needing to feed $15000 a year before airfares and extras, lets say another $7000, bringing the total to $22000 a year!!!

The ICC representative is apparently arriving this morning. Franchise cricket has been further postponed to December unless he brings money and a plan. Even the most optimistic of us are hanging or heads, not only for cricket but for our country (even if we are second class citizens).

[aydee]

Most miserable part is that all this directly follows on from the best on-field result for maybe a decade...

[sloandog]

So really, cricket in Zimbabwe is well and truly on its knees, both domestically and financially. Sounds like we'll be disintegrated by 2015 unless a miracle happens

[foreignfield]

Undoubtably things were looking better in 2010/11, but I suppose a large chunk of the debts we're faced with now were actually amassed in that period? I think Lara and co. were paid with borrowed money, and the T20 competition was loosing money even with sponsorship in place. That said, the more income available to ZC, the more there is to steal under the prevailing circumstances.

It's all rather depressing, and not only the cricketing side of things.

[brmtaylor.com admin]

That said, the more income available to ZC, the more there is to steal under the prevailing circumstances.

Yeah exactly. I think if you take the money out of cricket, then politically it's no more lucrative than something like lawn bowls and you'll be left with only those who care about the game in positions of authority. Our Test team play for the love of the game and have done so for a long time. I wonder how long the administrators would stick around on zero pay?

The dilemma though is that if you take the money out of cricket then it means Zimbabwe has lost Full Member status. No more Tests, no more televised matches, players will continue to abandon the sport. And then you are left with lawn bowls. A sport that few take any notice of and even fewer participate in.

I think the only way out is some sort of ICC brokered solution. Something like the ICC:

- controlling the purse strings; unless the ICC signs off on it money doesn't change hands
- installing a neutral interim CEO to oversee the restructuring of ZC, probably a successful Indian businessman is the most agreeable option for obvious reasons
- installing past players into administrative positions

[Googly]

Past players in administrative positions is a grave error. We've half tried that and it's a disaster. Unless any one of these guys has some kind of administrative and business experience and a proven track record it's a recipe for disaster. You need successful businessmen with integrity that really enjoy and understand the game. Some sort of cricketing experience is a bonus. There's not many to choose from unfortunately. This type of guy could allocate an hour a day to issuing orders and kicking some arse and it would be more than enough. It's the guy who controls the bucks who is the key. Every cent must be correctly accounted for and vetted, much the same as a well run business. Existing staff have been taking liberties for so long that it would be a seriously uphill task to rein it all in.

I'm always astounded when I talk to the various ex cricketers and guys who are supposedly knowledgeable about the game. Every one of them seems to have a vastly different opinion to the next about practically everything cricket. It's no wonder no-one seems to be able to pull in the same direction.

[brmtaylor.com admin]

Past players in administrative positions is a grave error. We've half tried that and it's a disaster.

I know it's an unpopular view, but when Campbell and Viljoen got on board we had a period of on and off field success. For a short period in 2010 and 2011, cricket in Zimbabwe had an air of credibility about it. More guys like them in positions of power is a good thing, I think.