The Sunday Mail
Brighton Zhawi
FOR what the budding rivalry between Zimbabwe and Ireland has lacked in actual on-field action, it has made up with plenty of off-field shenanigans, trash talk and friendly gamesmanship.
After all, this is a rivalry solely based on pride and the classic notion on who is the better man.
In the 12 years since their first meeting back 2007, Zimbabwe continues to have the upper hand given their 6-1-3 record over their European counterparts.
The two nations have met 10 times, with the Chevrons winning six and losing three.
However, in the decade — mgive or take a year or two — since the first meeting at the 2007 World Cup, Ireland has made great strides gaining ground of their rivals and finally attaining Test status.
The two nations are currently ranked 11th and 12th in the ODI arena, with Zimbabwe still a step ahead of their rivals.
Tomorrow, July 1, the two nations meet yet again renewing their budding rivalry in a three ODI and three Twenty20 series slated for July 1-14.
And much like their previous meetings, this series is sure to deliver both on and off the field. On the field, the Chevrons will seek to bounce back and atone from a humbling trip to the Netherlands during which the Dutch won the ODI series 2-0 and the T20s finished all square at one game apiece.
However, a huge cloud hangs over the tour itself, and it could be their last as there are high prospects of an ICC’s suspension over government’s interference into the day-to-day running of the sport.
The ZC and SRC fights are well-documented and all that is left is to wait for a verdict. It would have been poetic, had it not been tragic, that Zimbabwe’s tour to Ireland ends on the same day the ICC annual conference is expected to meet and deliberate on a course of action.
July 14, is also the same day the ongoing Cricket World Cup is expected to end, but that is neither here nor there.
Below is a brief look into the three biggest talking points heading into the tour itself.
The Rivalry
The first ever meeting between the two sides was in the 2007 World Cup which ended in a famous tie (the third tied match in World Cup history).
Ireland then recorded a controversial win over Zimbabwe during the 2015 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand where eight replays were needed to decide if Ireland’s John Mooney’s feet had touched the boundary in completing a catch off Sean Williams’ who was on 96.
Their last meeting was in the ICC World Qualifier where Zimbabwe won by 107 runs in Harare last year.
SRC v ZC
The drama, fights or whatever you may call is in week three now.
The Sports and Recreation Commission suspended Tavengwa Mukuhlani and his entire board as well as managing director Givemore Makoni for proceeding with a suspended AGM on June 14 in Victoria Falls.
Mukuhlani insists he is still the ZC boss and the SRC is having none of that and consequently the police have been informed of ‘sabotage’ by the suspended ZC officials.
Only last week, the new interim board led by David Ellman-Brown was expected to meet ZC staffers, hit by a massive stay away believed to have been orchestrated by the ousted board members.
ICC’s stance
The bottom-line in this matter is that the International Cricket Council does not allow government interference in its national members.
According to Section 2.4 (D) of the ICC constitution, every member must “manage its affairs autonomously and ensure that there is no government (or other public or quasi-public body) interference in its governance, regulation and/or administration of Cricket in its Cricket Playing Country.”
Section 2.10 (A) says the ICC board of directors “may suspend the membership of a Member with immediate effect where, in the opinion of the Board of Directors (in its absolute discretion), the Member is in serious breach of any of its obligations as a Member.”
