The Sunday Mail
Sports Reporter
AS the Chevrons’ hopes of participating at the 2023 World Cup fade by each passing match, former Zimbabwe Cricket manager Tererai Mubwandarikwa has called for widening the selection base for national team players.
After six matches, Zimbabwe have only managed a single win and find themselves at the bottom of the 13-team ICC 2023 Super League table with a paltry 10 points.
The Chevrons’ poor performance have touched off debate in the cricket corridors about how a “cartel of selectors” is choking the game by restricting themselves to their preferred centres when talent is abundant across the country and around the globe.
Mubwandarikwa believes every eligible player should be given an opportunity to represent the country.
“I think we need to create a culture where a national team is a national team per se and not someone’s private project.
“The national team should be open to all Zimbabweans across the world. There are a number of cricketers playing some decent cricket in South Africa, England and Australia.
“These players should be given an opportunity to come and challenge for places in the national team,” he said.
Eight teams from the Super League, including hosts, are guaranteed a place at the cricket global showcase, with the two remaining slots reserved for the two best teams in the 2023 qualifiers, which will see the bottom five teams from the Super League battling it out with five associate sides.
The bottom team in the Super League will face possible relegation to League 2 of the next edition of the World Cup.
And, as it stands, Zimbabwe are likely candidates for demotion after poor performances in their recent matches.
“Definitely, the ODI series was disappointing; losing three-nil was a clear whitewash.
“Going forward, right now we are in trouble and I don’t think we will qualify for the World Cup, as it will be difficult for us to make it into the top eight.
“Currently we are positioned number 13 and we will need a miracle to get up there.”
Despite Zimbabwe finding the going tough in the just-ended round of the ICC 2023 qualifiers against Bangladesh, who currently sit second on the log table, Mubwandarikwa believes there are a lot of takeaways from the ODI series.
He, however, blamed senior players for failing to come to the party.
“There are few positives to take from the Bangladesh series . . .
“I think the introduction of the youngsters, Dion Myers, into the set-up; Tadiwanashe Marumani, though he has not yet performed; the continuation and confidence of picking Wesley Madhevhere in the side, I think it’s a positive for the future for Zimbabwe Cricket.
“But the senior players have not come to the party and I think it is only Taylor who has got his hand up during the series. It
was good to see Raza back in the second and third ODI: He did fairly well with the bat,” he said.
Chevrons coach Lalchand Rajput has also come under scrutiny for the poor performances.
“International cricket is all about winning, it’s not about going out there and giving out a performance, it’s about winning and qualifying for tournaments and doing well, but with these he will be just like any one of those coaches, but I don’t doubt his capabilities,’’ added Mubwandarikwa.
He said there was need for Zimbabwe Cricket to invest in developmental projects to ensure there is less recycling of players.
“The first-class structure is too diluted. It’s run under what I will term a cartel.
“The structure needs to be opened up and let teams have their own independent selectors, thus the provinces should have autonomy and authority over their teams, and not being directed by ZC on how and who to pick.
“I think that has also affected selection.
“We need to have a lot of Zim A side matches, where we are not recycling players but giving an opportunity to players for the future.”
The lack of cricket structures to nurture upcoming talent from grassroots level is also blamed for declining standards.
