The Sunday Mail
Brighton Zhawi
ZIMBABWE’S visit to Europe has been a horror tour which ends this week, with the third and final T20 against Ireland in Belfast.
As the cricket team returns home from their tour of Netherlands and Ireland, their interim bosses will be landing in the UK for the International Cricket Council (ICC) conference on July 18.
The ICC is expected to make deliberations on Zimbabwe following the suspension of the ZC board and the appointment of an interim committee by the Sport and Recreation Commission.
The saga has also spilled into the courts of law after the ZC leadership appealed against their suspension.
These events have left a cloud of uncertainty in the domestic game given that the ICC has a zero tolerance on government interference in cricket.
But Zimbabwe’s fate will be known at the end of the July 18 indaba.
On the field of play, it has also has been gloomy for the Chevrons who were whitewashed 0-2 in the ODI series and drew 1-1 in two-match T20 series against Netherlands.
Poor results continued in Ireland with another ODI (3-0) whitewash and the home team head into Wednesday’s T20 leading 1-0 after the first match was abandoned without a ball bowled due to wet weather.
Craig Ervine has been Zimbabwe’s player in form, leading the chats between two teams in the ODI series, averaging 52.00 in three innings with a best of 101.
Solomon Mire has struggled with the bat, averaging 9.00 in the ODI series, but was Zimbabwe’s best bowler in the ODI series against Ireland. He picked five wickets in two matches, with best figures of 4/43.
For Ireland, Paul Stirling starred in the second T20 with an unbeaten 83 while 23-year-old pace bowler Mark Adair picked four wickets that led his side to a nine-wicket victory.
Meanwhile, Elton Chigumbura went through a successful Achilles injury surgery after he suffered the mishap in the second T20 against Netherlands.
