The Sunday Mail
SOME called it a masterstroke while others dismissed it as nothing more than a publicity stunt.
Now, just over a month into his new job and halfway through his first assignment, it appears the decision to bring Tatenda Taibu (pictured) back into the fold was a combination of both.
Taibu made his return to the country’s cricket set-up in June when he was named convener of selectors in a broad Zimbabwe Cricket restructuring exercise.
The call was a masterstroke because as a serviceman, Taibu did duty for his country with distinction and is viewed as a hero by a majority of his peers.
In a career spanning over a decade, the 33-year-old played 28 Tests and 150 One-Day Internationals, scoring 1 546 and 3 393 runs respectively.
He also had 62 Tests and 177 ODI dismissals from behind the stumps.
Taibu is ranked seventh and eighth on the Zimbabwe top ODI and Test run scorers lists, and is the country’s youngest Test captain ever.
With his statistics alone, Taibu has done enough to earn the respect of all players, administrators and cricket fans.
But the decision to rope in Taibu can be dismissed as a PR stunt on the part of ZC
After a disastrous 2015 and an even worse 2016, ZC was in dire need of a face-saver, they needed to be seen to be doing something to arrest the free-fall.
Last year was marked by humiliating defeats to minnows Afghanistan, further compounded by last month’s thrashing at the hands of a second-string Indian side, and an early elimination from the Twenty20 World Cup before that.
A deflection of sorts was needed.
First came the appointment of Makhaya Ntini, who had no coaching experience at international level, then Lance Klusener – both getting key posts within the Chevrons technical team.
Taibu’s appointment was to be the final piece of the puzzle, the one to tip the scales in ZC’s favour and divert attention from the real problems at hand.
But things have not worked out that way, and Taibu’s plate is full.
His commitment to his church is well documented, after having walked away from the game he loves to pursue ministerial work.
He has been out of touch with game for four years and is dividing his time between church duties and his new post.
And we have not seen Taibu at the ongoing Test series against New Zealand, which is nothing short of strange for the convenor of selectors.
ZC have not done anything to explain this situation, not a squeak has come out of chairman Tawengwa Mukhulani.
“The chairman has seen your questions and unfortunately cannot really comment at this point in time. Taibu is the best person to answer any questions to do with his faith and how he plans to juggle his new duties and those of his ministry.
“We can arrange an exclusive interview for you, with him, once he arrives in Bulawayo for the second Test, hopefully on Sunday (today)”.
These were the words of Zimbabwe Cricket PR and media manager Darlington Majonga, after an enquiry into the nature of Taibu’s contract and if the organisation was comfortable with his seemingly divided attention.
Efforts to track down Taibu were fruitless.
The Lord’s work is the Lord’s work, but the convener of selectors is a full-time job that requires one’s full attention.
As convener of a panel that includes novices like Ntini and Cremer, Taibu’s wealth of experience will be greatly helpful in mapping Zimbabwe’s future.
Ntini, while a great player in his day, is yet to prove his worth as a coach.
His only redeeming attribute to his time in Zimbabwe is his highly contagious energy, but that neither puts runs on the board nor takes wickets.
His assistant and batting coach, Lance Klusener, falls in the same category. Cremer is still to come to terms with his new role as captain.
