Cricket in Zimbabwe
Encyclopedia
Cricket
is the most popular sport in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe is currently a full member of the International Cricket Council
(ICC).
was introduced to Rhodesia
in the 19th century and the Rhodesian Cricket Union was formed in 1898. Rhodesia participated in the Currie Cup
, the South African inter-province competition in 1904/05 and then again from 1929/30 until 1979/80. In May 1980, the new post colonial country of Zimbabwe
severed its Cricketing ties with South Africa and it became an Associate Member of the (then) "International Cricket Conference".
Zimbabwe became a full member of the ICC
on 6 July 1992 and played its first test match on 18 October-22 October the same year, against India
at the Harare Sports Stadium in Harare
. The match was drawn.
During the 2003 cricket World Cup
, the political situation in Zimbabwe came to the fore on the Cricket field. 2 Zimbabwean players, Andy Flower
(white) and Henry Olonga
(black), defied orders and wore black armbands during matches in protest against the "death of democracy in Zimbabwe" - a reference to their concern over the political actions of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe
. Both players subsequently retired from Cricket and emigrated from Zimbabwe.
On 2 April 2004, Zimbabwe announced that test captain Heath Streak
had resigned the captaincy and retired from Cricket. Over the following days it became clear that Streak had been dismissed. The fellow white players submitted a list of demands to the ZC, including the reinstatement of Streak and a review of the team selection process with a view to eliminating political and racial bias imposed by the Mugabe government. The ZC ignored the demands and fielded a team of inexperienced youths in 2 Tests and 3 ODIs against the touring Sri Lanka
n side. The understrength Zimbabwe team was resoundingly defeated, resulting in calls from many players, ex-players, commentators, and fans for the ICC
to strip the ZC of Test status until the internal crisis could be resolved.
The matter reached a climax when ICC Chief Executive Malcolm Speed
flew to Harare on 17 May to meet with ZC officials and discuss the crisis. The ZC refused to see him. Speed called an emergency meeting of the ICC Board to vote on the issue of Zimbabwe's suspension as a Test nation. On 21 May, with the vote just hours away, the ZC contacted Cricket Australia
with an offer to cancel the 2 Test matches against Australia
, due to begin the next day. Cricket Australia accepted the offer, thus averting the vote against the ZCU.
On 10 June, representatives of the ZC, Cricket Australia, the United Cricket Board of South Africa, and the Board of Control for Cricket in India
met and agreed that all remaining Test matches involving Zimbabwe for 2004 would be cancelled.
In November 2005, Tatenda Taibu
the young captain of the Zimbabwe national team resigned citing the Current Situation in Zimbabwe Cricket as the main reason. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/other_international/zimbabwe/4467062.stm
In March 2007, Zimbabwe Cricket
, ordered national team members participating in the Cricket World Cup
in to remove their dreadlocks. .
In May 2007, the Australian Prime Minister John Howard
declared his opposition to the political situation in Zimbabwe and the conduct of the Mugabe government by formally blocking the proposed tour to Zimbabwe in September 2007, by the Australian cricket team
after discussions with Australian players.
(ZC) (formerly known as the Zimbabwe Cricket Union) is the governing body for the sport of cricket
in Zimbabwe
. It is a full member of the International Cricket Council
and African Cricket Association
, and operates the Zimbabwean cricket team
, organising Test tours
and One Day Internationals with other nations. It also organises domestic cricket in Zimbabwe.
is the premier domestic first-class cricket
competition in Zimbabwe
. It has been contested on a provincial basis since the 1903-04 season, when the country was still called Rhodesia
, but has only attained first-class status since Zimbabwe became a full member of the ICC
in 1992.
involved the following teams before the introduction of franchise system in Zimbabwean Cricket:
The newly introduced five franchise sides are as follows:
Former teams that played Logan Cup:
Masvingo were expected to receive first-class status in 2005-06, but that season of the Logan Cup
was cancelled, and the team never had the opportunity to participate.
Teams which have also enjoyed first-class cricket
status at some point include:
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
is the most popular sport in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe is currently a full member of the International Cricket Council
International Cricket Council
The International Cricket Council is the international governing body of cricket. It was founded as the Imperial Cricket Conference in 1909 by representatives from England, Australia and South Africa, renamed the International Cricket Conference in 1965, and took up its current name in 1989.The...
(ICC).
History
CricketCricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
was introduced to Rhodesia
Rhodesia
Rhodesia , officially the Republic of Rhodesia from 1970, was an unrecognised state located in southern Africa that existed between 1965 and 1979 following its Unilateral Declaration of Independence from the United Kingdom on 11 November 1965...
in the 19th century and the Rhodesian Cricket Union was formed in 1898. Rhodesia participated in the Currie Cup
SuperSport Series
The SuperSport Series is the main domestic first class cricket competition in South Africa, first contested in 1889-90. From 1990-91 it became known as the Castle Cup, and from 1996-97 by its current title...
, the South African inter-province competition in 1904/05 and then again from 1929/30 until 1979/80. In May 1980, the new post colonial country of Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
severed its Cricketing ties with South Africa and it became an Associate Member of the (then) "International Cricket Conference".
Zimbabwe became a full member of the ICC
International Cricket Council
The International Cricket Council is the international governing body of cricket. It was founded as the Imperial Cricket Conference in 1909 by representatives from England, Australia and South Africa, renamed the International Cricket Conference in 1965, and took up its current name in 1989.The...
on 6 July 1992 and played its first test match on 18 October-22 October the same year, against India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
at the Harare Sports Stadium in Harare
Harare
Harare before 1982 known as Salisbury) is the largest city and capital of Zimbabwe. It has an estimated population of 1,600,000, with 2,800,000 in its metropolitan area . Administratively, Harare is an independent city equivalent to a province. It is Zimbabwe's largest city and its...
. The match was drawn.
During the 2003 cricket World Cup
2003 Cricket World Cup
-Group stage tables and results:The top three teams from each pool qualify for the next stage, carrying forward the points already scored against fellow qualifiers, plus a quarter of the points scored against the teams that failed to qualify.-Pool A:...
, the political situation in Zimbabwe came to the fore on the Cricket field. 2 Zimbabwean players, Andy Flower
Andy Flower
Andrew "Andy" Flower OBE is a former international cricketer for Zimbabwe and is currently the England coach.-Playing career:...
(white) and Henry Olonga
Henry Olonga
Henry Khaaba Olonga is a former Zambian-born cricketer for Zimbabwe.- Cricket career :He made his international debut in a Test match against Pakistan at Harare in 1995, at age 18 years, 212 days, becoming the youngest player to represent Zimbabwe. He helped Zimbabwe to its first ever Test victory...
(black), defied orders and wore black armbands during matches in protest against the "death of democracy in Zimbabwe" - a reference to their concern over the political actions of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe
Robert Mugabe
Robert Gabriel Mugabe is the President of Zimbabwe. As one of the leaders of the liberation movement against white-minority rule, he was elected into power in 1980...
. Both players subsequently retired from Cricket and emigrated from Zimbabwe.
On 2 April 2004, Zimbabwe announced that test captain Heath Streak
Heath Streak
Heath Hilton Streak is a former Zimbabwean cricketer. He made his Test debut in Zimbabwe's tour of Pakistan 1993/1994 making his mark by taking 8 wickets in the 2nd Test at Rawalpindi...
had resigned the captaincy and retired from Cricket. Over the following days it became clear that Streak had been dismissed. The fellow white players submitted a list of demands to the ZC, including the reinstatement of Streak and a review of the team selection process with a view to eliminating political and racial bias imposed by the Mugabe government. The ZC ignored the demands and fielded a team of inexperienced youths in 2 Tests and 3 ODIs against the touring Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
n side. The understrength Zimbabwe team was resoundingly defeated, resulting in calls from many players, ex-players, commentators, and fans for the ICC
International Cricket Council
The International Cricket Council is the international governing body of cricket. It was founded as the Imperial Cricket Conference in 1909 by representatives from England, Australia and South Africa, renamed the International Cricket Conference in 1965, and took up its current name in 1989.The...
to strip the ZC of Test status until the internal crisis could be resolved.
The matter reached a climax when ICC Chief Executive Malcolm Speed
Malcolm Speed
Malcolm Walter Speed is an Australian businessman and the former CEO of the International Cricket Council.Before he entered the world of cricket, he was a barrister in Melbourne. He was originally the Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Cricket Board from 1997 until in 2001, he took up the...
flew to Harare on 17 May to meet with ZC officials and discuss the crisis. The ZC refused to see him. Speed called an emergency meeting of the ICC Board to vote on the issue of Zimbabwe's suspension as a Test nation. On 21 May, with the vote just hours away, the ZC contacted Cricket Australia
Cricket Australia
Cricket Australia, formerly known as the Australian Cricket Board, is the governing body for professional and amateur cricket in Australia. It was originally formed in 1905 as the Australian Board of Control for International Cricket...
with an offer to cancel the 2 Test matches against Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, due to begin the next day. Cricket Australia accepted the offer, thus averting the vote against the ZCU.
On 10 June, representatives of the ZC, Cricket Australia, the United Cricket Board of South Africa, and the Board of Control for Cricket in India
Board of Control for Cricket in India
The Board of Control for Cricket in India , headquartered at Mumbai, is the national governing body for all cricket in India. It's not the apex governing body in India. The board was formed in December 1928 as BCCI replaced Calcutta Cricket Club. BCCI is a society, registered under the Tamil Nadu...
met and agreed that all remaining Test matches involving Zimbabwe for 2004 would be cancelled.
In November 2005, Tatenda Taibu
Tatenda Taibu
Tatenda Taibu is a Zimbabwean cricketer. He is a wicketkeeper and batsman, and can also bowl right arm off spin. On 6 May 2004, he became the youngest Test captain in history, when he captained his team against Sri Lanka....
the young captain of the Zimbabwe national team resigned citing the Current Situation in Zimbabwe Cricket as the main reason. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/other_international/zimbabwe/4467062.stm
In March 2007, Zimbabwe Cricket
Zimbabwe Cricket
Zimbabwe Cricket is the governing body for the sport of cricket in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe Cricket is a full member of the International Cricket Council, and operates the Zimbabwean cricket team, organising Test tours, One Day Internationals and Twenty20 Internationals with other nations...
, ordered national team members participating in the Cricket World Cup
Cricket World Cup
The ICC Cricket World Cup is the premier international championship of men's One Day International cricket. The event is organised by the sport's governing body, the International Cricket Council , with preliminary qualification rounds leading up to a finals tournament which is held every four years...
in to remove their dreadlocks. .
In May 2007, the Australian Prime Minister John Howard
John Howard
John Winston Howard AC, SSI, was the 25th Prime Minister of Australia, from 11 March 1996 to 3 December 2007. He was the second-longest serving Australian Prime Minister after Sir Robert Menzies....
declared his opposition to the political situation in Zimbabwe and the conduct of the Mugabe government by formally blocking the proposed tour to Zimbabwe in September 2007, by the Australian cricket team
Australian cricket team
The Australian cricket team is the national cricket team of Australia. It is the joint oldest team in Test cricket, having played in the first Test match in 1877...
after discussions with Australian players.
Governing body
Zimbabwe CricketZimbabwe Cricket
Zimbabwe Cricket is the governing body for the sport of cricket in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe Cricket is a full member of the International Cricket Council, and operates the Zimbabwean cricket team, organising Test tours, One Day Internationals and Twenty20 Internationals with other nations...
(ZC) (formerly known as the Zimbabwe Cricket Union) is the governing body for the sport of cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
. It is a full member of the International Cricket Council
International Cricket Council
The International Cricket Council is the international governing body of cricket. It was founded as the Imperial Cricket Conference in 1909 by representatives from England, Australia and South Africa, renamed the International Cricket Conference in 1965, and took up its current name in 1989.The...
and African Cricket Association
African Cricket Association
The African Cricket Association is an international body which oversees cricket in African countries. The ACA was founded in 1997, and has 20 member countries...
, and operates the Zimbabwean cricket team
Zimbabwean cricket team
The Zimbabwean cricket team is a national cricket team representing Zimbabwe. It is administrated by Zimbabwe Cricket...
, organising Test tours
Test cricket
Test cricket is the longest form of the sport of cricket. Test matches are played between national representative teams with "Test status", as determined by the International Cricket Council , with four innings played between two teams of 11 players over a period of up to a maximum five days...
and One Day Internationals with other nations. It also organises domestic cricket in Zimbabwe.
Domestic competitions
The Logan CupLogan Cup
The Logan Cup is the premier domestic first-class cricket competition in Zimbabwe. The current champions are the Matabeleland Tusker.-History:...
is the premier domestic first-class cricket
First-class cricket
First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
competition in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
. It has been contested on a provincial basis since the 1903-04 season, when the country was still called Rhodesia
Rhodesia
Rhodesia , officially the Republic of Rhodesia from 1970, was an unrecognised state located in southern Africa that existed between 1965 and 1979 following its Unilateral Declaration of Independence from the United Kingdom on 11 November 1965...
, but has only attained first-class status since Zimbabwe became a full member of the ICC
International Cricket Council
The International Cricket Council is the international governing body of cricket. It was founded as the Imperial Cricket Conference in 1909 by representatives from England, Australia and South Africa, renamed the International Cricket Conference in 1965, and took up its current name in 1989.The...
in 1992.
Teams
Zimbabwean domestic First-class cricketFirst-class cricket
First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
involved the following teams before the introduction of franchise system in Zimbabwean Cricket:
- CentralsCentrals cricket teamThe Centrals cricket team was a first-class cricket team in Zimbabwe. They competed in the Logan Cup from 2006 to 2009. The club played their home matches at the Kwekwe Sports Club.-First-class record:...
- NorthernsNortherns cricket team (Zimbabwe)The Northerns cricket team was a first-class cricket team in Zimbabwe. They competed in the Logan Cup from 2006 to 2009. The club played their home matches at the Harare Sports Club.-First-class record:...
- Southerns
- WesternsWesterns cricket team (Zimbabwe)The Westerns cricket team was a first-class cricket team in Zimbabwe. They competed in the Logan Cup from 2006 to 2009. The club played their home matches at the Queens Sports Club.-First-class record:...
- EasternsEasterns cricket team (Zimbabwe)The Easterns cricket team was a first-class cricket team in Zimbabwe. They competed in the Logan Cup from 2006 to 2009. The club played their home matches at the Mutare Sports Club.-First-class record:...
The newly introduced five franchise sides are as follows:
- Matabeleland TuskersMatabeleland TuskersThe Matabeleland Tuskers is one of five cricket Zimbabwean cricket franchises. They are a first-class cricket team, based in the Bulawayo Metropolitan and Matabeleland North area. They play their home matches at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo....
- Mashonaland EaglesMashonaland EaglesThe Mashonaland Eagles is one of five cricket Zimbabwean cricket franchises. They are a first-class cricket team, based in the Harare Metropolitan and Mashonaland Central area. They play their home matches at Harare Sports Club in Harare.-Squad:...
- Mid West RhinosMid West RhinosThe Mid West Rhinos is one of five cricket Zimbabwean cricket franchises. They are a first-class cricket team, based in the Midlands and Mashonaland West area. They play their home matches at Kwekwe Sports Club in Kwekwe....
- Southern RocksSouthern RocksThe Southern Rocks is one of five Zimbabwean cricket franchises. They are a first-class cricket team, based in the Masvingo and Matabeleland South area. They play their home matches at Masvingo Sports Club in Masvingo.-Squad:...
- MountaineersMountaineers cricket teamThe Mountaineers is one of five cricket Zimbabwean cricket franchises. They are a first-class cricket team, based in the Manicaland and Mashonaland East area. They play their home matches at Mutare Sports Club in Mutare.-Squad:...
Former teams that played Logan Cup:
- ManicalandManicaland cricket teamThe Manicaland cricket team was a first-class cricket team representing the Manicaland province in Zimbabwe. They competed in the Logan Cup from 1999 until the format was revamped after the 2004–05 season. The club played their home matches at the Mutare Sports Club.-First-class record:...
- MashonalandMashonaland cricket teamThe Mashonaland cricket team was a first-class cricket team representing the Mashonaland province in Zimbabwe. They competed in the Logan Cup from 1994 until the format was revamped in 2007. James Kirtley played for Mashonaland during the 1996/1997 season...
- MatabelelandMatabeleland cricket teamMatabeleland cricket team was a first-class cricket team representing the Matabeleland province in Zimbabwe. They competed in the Logan Cup from 1994 until the format was revamped in 2007....
- MidlandsMidlands cricket teamThe Midlands cricket team was a first-class cricket team representing the Midlands province in Zimbabwe. They competed in the Logan Cup from 1999 until the competition was revamped after the 2004–05 season. The club played their home matches at the Kwekwe Sports Club.-First-class record:...
- Mashonaland Country Districts
- Mashonaland "A"
- Mashonaland U-23
- Young Mashonaland
- CFX AcademyCFX Academy cricket teamThe CFX Academy cricket team was a first-class cricket team representing the Zimbabwe's cricket academy in the country's domestic cricket competitions. They competed in the Logan Cup from 1999 until the 2002. The club played their home matches at the Country Club, Harare.-First-class record:...
Masvingo were expected to receive first-class status in 2005-06, but that season of the Logan Cup
Logan Cup
The Logan Cup is the premier domestic first-class cricket competition in Zimbabwe. The current champions are the Matabeleland Tusker.-History:...
was cancelled, and the team never had the opportunity to participate.
Teams which have also enjoyed first-class cricket
First-class cricket
First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
status at some point include:
- Matabeleland Country Districts
- Zimbabwe Board XI
- Zimbabwe XI
- Zimbabweans
- Zimbabwe Board Presidents XI
- Zimbabwe Select
- Zimbabwe Provinces
- Zimbabwe "A"
- Zimbabwe "B"
- Rhodesia
- Rhodesians
- Rhodesia "A"
- Rhodesia "B"