Where to from here?

[Pat_Bee]

The guys are losers and have a loser mentality, crumble under any pressure whatsoever. Until that changes nothing else will. Raz Dawg changes the plan and opens once the horse is bolted. Will be bigging up his three consecutive player of the match awards to anyone who will listen but they’re empty and hollow.

[Pat_Bee]

Na the pro50 final is happening, and it better be streamed with moving cameras and commentary to make it up to us after these shenanigans in Namibia

Then there’s the Ireland and Sri Lanka series to look forward to.

This is done now. Onwards and upwards in the ZC machine yo..

[Googly]

Just been reading on twitter (X or Z or whatever) what Raza apparently said post match interview.
Basically said big fallout and big changes imminent and worrying times ahead.
That sounds very ominous. I just don't see what they can do that's constructive.

[secretzimbo]

Raza really has carried us for the past two years hasn’t he. Even this week.

At least we can be sure he won’t be retiring anytime soon.

Well, unless the board make any drastic decisions he doesn’t agree with. But he seems to be very in with them these days.

[Pat_Bee]

He said in his post match interview he wouldn’t want any changes to his squad and would take a bullet before any of his boys. What a leader of men yo. That statement shows he knows something is afoot however,

[Pat_Bee]

But he seems to be very in with them these days.

Very good old Raz Dawg.

[Googly]

Well very rarely has one single player held so many cards. If he's the calming voice of reason then that's amazing, but unlikely.

[Pat_Bee]

Raz dawg holds them all and ZC know it. Without him we’d be duking it out with Rwanda and Tanzania for the worst side in Africa. It’s why they’re sweet with all his jollying off to franchise leagues.

[eugene]

There's not really anywhere to go, we don't have the players to go anywhere other than down. When Taylor, Williams, Ervine, etc., first came into the team they had their struggles but fairly quickly found their feet against full members. Now we have guys entering the team, including much-hyped returnees from overseas who can't even get runs against Rwanda let alone full members. With Bangladesh and Afghanistan well ahead of us and the Netherlands also heading that way, we are so far adrift of any recognized cricketing nation that I think we are going to struggle for fixtures. The 2027 World Cup will most likely be the last tournament Zimbabwe qualifies for.

[Kriterion_BD]

Def agree with eugene...with one caveat. Its only 2023...if Zimbabwe don't improve drastically by 2025 or 2026...whats stopping the ICC from saying "Namibia have to qualify...Namibia are higher up the rankings than ZIM (in one or both white ball formats)...ergo ZIM should have to qualify as well". Isn't that the most ICC thing ever? Its not like the sponsors or other commercial partners will object.

Improvement won't happen overnight...in other words it is highly unlikely that Zimbabwe will come out and dominate Ireland in the series this month. The key should be baby steps...prove you can compete with Ireland. Sri Lanka will actually the pose a more vulnerable opponent next year...plus ZIM have an excellent record against them and particularly in Sri Lanka.

My suggestion would be this:

1) Pick the best players based on potential. Emphasis should be on guys younger than 25. Keep whichever seniors wish to stay on (Big 3 not talking about Chatara).

2) Above players need to be given a long rope to succeed. Yes, some of them (Wes, Marumani) have already gotten many chances...but lets give everyone identified in #1 above a clean slate. The lads are mentally drained after the UAE game, Scotland game, Namibia/Uganda games basically back to back. Tell them all is forgiven, if they forget and start anew from now.

3) Set realistic targets eg getting close in the rankings to WI for example

4) Arrange senior team tours with teams like Nepal, Namibia, Scotland, Ireland, Netherlands. Results matter less now than learning! There is no place for pride or ego anymore.