Ryan Burl and the plight of Zimbabwe Cricket
Skip to main content
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Features
  • Epaper
  • More
    • Subscribe
    • COVID-19
    • Bangladesh
    • Splash
    • Videos
    • Games
    • Long Read
    • Infograph
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Thoughts
    • Podcast
    • Quiz
    • Tech
    • Archive
    • Trial By Trivia
    • Magazine
    • Supplement
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Monday
August 15, 2022

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Features
  • Epaper
  • More
    • Subscribe
    • COVID-19
    • Bangladesh
    • Splash
    • Videos
    • Games
    • Long Read
    • Infograph
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Thoughts
    • Podcast
    • Quiz
    • Tech
    • Archive
    • Trial By Trivia
    • Magazine
    • Supplement
  • বাংলা
MONDAY, AUGUST 15, 2022
Ryan Burl and the plight of Zimbabwe Cricket

Sports

Tahmid Zaman Khan
07 June, 2021, 12:05 pm
Last modified: 07 June, 2021, 12:07 pm

Related News

  • Chakabva to lead Zimbabwe in India ODI series
  • Consolation win for Bangladesh in 3rd ODI against Zimbabwe
  • Bangladesh suffer shock series defeat against Zimbabwe after nine years
  • Raza, Kaia tons help Zimbabwe clinch memorable win against shell-shocked Bangladesh in 1st ODI
  • Half-centuries from Litton, Tamim, Anamul and Mushfiqur power Tigers to 303 in first ODI

Ryan Burl and the plight of Zimbabwe Cricket

A clash between players and the board due to salaries not being paid and other politics are still very relevant in Zimbabwe Cricket. 

Tahmid Zaman Khan
07 June, 2021, 12:05 pm
Last modified: 07 June, 2021, 12:07 pm
Photo: ICC
Photo: ICC

We have seen Bangladesh playing ample matches with Zimbabwe in all formats of the game.

When Bangladesh don't find other opponents to play, they turn to Zimbabwe.

So much so, that people sarcastically titled the Bangladesh-Zimbabwe battle in cricket as the 'Ashes of Minnows'.

But while Bangladesh have taken small steps to progress in the world of cricket, political and financial turmoil has taken its toll on Zimbabwe cricket.

Recently, Zimbabwean cricketer Ryan Burl posted an image of his ripped shoes on his official Twitter account. 

The 27-year-old tagged a sports manufacturer on his post on Twitter and wrote, "Any chance we can get a sponsor so we don't have to glue our shoes back after every series?" 

The tweet went viral and was noticed by sportswear giant Puma as the brand responded on Twitter. 

In response, Burl thanked the brand for reaching out to him. 

Though the gesture by Puma was appreciated by a lot of cricket enthusiasts on social media, it is learned that the entire episode has left the officials of Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) irked. 

If reports are to be believed then some 'higher-ups' at Zimbabwe cricket feel that the instance has ruined the prestige of the organisation.

It makes sense because ZC are after all the employers of the players but players having issues with the board is not new in Zimbabwe cricket. 

In 2020, a clash between the Zimbabwe board and its players arose due to the players' wages being cut during a Test series against Srilanka. 

Prior to that, those players had gone on for months without pay and had threatened to go on strike. 

This struggle is not new in Zimbabwean Cricket. 

The rise of Zimbabwe cricket

If we look back, Zimbabwe cricket grew on and off the field in the 1980s. 

Sponsors helped make concrete pitches in schools and provide proper cricket facilities there. 

A member of England's coaching programme was brought out to run courses and develop black coaches in the community. 

And in the mid-1990s a scholarship programme took the most talented youngsters to more privileged schools with better cricket facilities. 

In the meantime, black players from wealthier backgrounds were coming through private schools. 

Fast bowler Ethan Dube toured England in 1990 and would have become Zimbabwe's first black representative if not for injury. 

In 1995, fast bowler Henry Olonga played in the country's first Test win and talented black players like Mpumelelo Mbangwa and Trevor Madondo debuted soon after. 

Yet the national team remained almost exclusively white until the end of the millennium which is when the country began to change. 

Mugabe's dictatorship and the fall of Zimbabwe cricket

The cricket association of Zimbabwe is controlled by the state. 

Robert Mugabe, ex-President of Zimbabwe (since 1987) was also the 1st Prime Minister (1980–87) started out as an African nationalist and then turned into a full-fledged dictator. 

He has been accused of economic mismanagement, corruption, anti-white, human rights abuses and crimes against humanity. 

The opening match for Zimbabwe in the 2003 World Cup against Namibia in Harare was a significant one.

Two players, Andy Flower and Henry Olonga, decided to wear black armbands which they described as "mourning the death of democracy in Zimbabwe".

This was specifically indicated towards the Mugabe regime and its policies. 

After that, Flower and Olonga never played again for Zimbabwe. 

They were shamed by the local cricket body and the government and later settled in England where they played county cricket. 

The situation only got worse from there for the players and cricket in Zimbabwe. 

In 2006, the Logan Cup, Zimbabwe's first-class competition was suspended due to Zimbabwe's economic collapse and players not receiving their salaries for long periods.

When Zimbabwe failed to qualify for the 2019 World Cup, it was blamed on the coach Heath Streak that he favoured the white players even though Tatenda Taibu (a black former player from Zimbabwe) was in the coaching staff with him. 

Players like Brendan Taylor and Solomon Mire chose county stints over the country because they were not paid properly and regularly by the board. 

Also, in July 2019 ZC was suspended by the ICC after the board failed to ensure that there was no government interference in running the cricket body in the country. Cricket's global body during their meeting in London, issued a statement on Zimbabwe's immediate suspension after it was unanimously decided that the board had failed to fulfil their obligation to provide a process for transparent elections and to ensure that there is no interference from the government involved in its administration for cricket.

A clash between players and the board due to salaries not being paid and other politics are still very relevant in Zimbabwe Cricket. 

ZC's financial situation has become so dire (in sync with the country's poor financial situation) that they have been forced to borrow money from ICC just to organise tournaments and keep the game afloat in Zimbabwe. 

Cricket is not the most popular sport in Zimbabwe but the country had once shown a lot of promise and still is producing talented players.

If they can fix their political and financial problems, they can once again become a cricket team on the rise. 
 

Cricket

Zimbabwe Cricket Team

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Fuel prices to be cut once they drop globally: PM
    Fuel prices to be cut once they drop globally: PM
  • Banks limited to profit highest Tk1 per dollar
    Banks limited to profit highest Tk1 per dollar
  • From left Afzal Karim, Murshedul Kabir and Mohammad Jahangir
    Sonali, Agrani and Rupali banks get new MDs

MOST VIEWED

  • Battle at the Bridge: Tuchel and Conte sent off at end of fiery 2-2 draw
    Battle at the Bridge: Tuchel and Conte sent off at end of fiery 2-2 draw
  • 'You'd be pretty stupid to ignore Bazball': Billings' savage response to Elgar's 'it has no longevity' comment
    'You'd be pretty stupid to ignore Bazball': Billings' savage response to Elgar's 'it has no longevity' comment
  • Xavi pleads for patience & more signings after Rayo Vallecano draw
    Xavi pleads for patience & more signings after Rayo Vallecano draw
  • 'It's a real achievement for Man Utd to spend a billion pounds and be this bad'
    'It's a real achievement for Man Utd to spend a billion pounds and be this bad'
  • Pascal Jochem. Sketch: TBS
    World Cup 2022 — No anticipation, only chaos in Qatar
  • 'I put Kohli in the same bracket as Tiger Woods, Muhammad Ali': Sikandar Raza
    'I put Kohli in the same bracket as Tiger Woods, Muhammad Ali': Sikandar Raza

Related News

  • Chakabva to lead Zimbabwe in India ODI series
  • Consolation win for Bangladesh in 3rd ODI against Zimbabwe
  • Bangladesh suffer shock series defeat against Zimbabwe after nine years
  • Raza, Kaia tons help Zimbabwe clinch memorable win against shell-shocked Bangladesh in 1st ODI
  • Half-centuries from Litton, Tamim, Anamul and Mushfiqur power Tigers to 303 in first ODI

Features

Photos: M Aminur Rahman

Mallik Ghat flower market: the biggest hub for flowers in Asia

12h | In Focus
Infigraphic: TBS

The dollar crunch chronicles

17h | Panorama
The proposed playground for disabled people has long been left to grow bushes on the premises of the National Parliament Building in the city. Photo: Noor-A-Alam

Whatever happened to the ‘promised land’ for the disabled?

16h | Panorama
Sketch: TBS

India’s 75th anniversary is one to forget

15h | Panorama

More Videos from TBS

"We got caught in the cyclone while shooting Hawa"

"We got caught in the cyclone while shooting Hawa"

5h | Videos
Get your child's Covid vaccine registration done in few easy steps

Get your child's Covid vaccine registration done in few easy steps

5h | Videos
UN expresses concern over Ukraine's Zaporizhia nuke plant

UN expresses concern over Ukraine's Zaporizhia nuke plant

7h | Videos
ADB's $9.46B coming to cover development costs

ADB's $9.46B coming to cover development costs

9h | Videos

Most Read

1
Dollar crisis: BB orders removal of 6 banks’ treasury chiefs 
Banking

Dollar crisis: BB orders removal of 6 banks’ treasury chiefs 

2
From left Afzal Karim, Murshedul Kabir and Mohammad Jahangir
Banking

Sonali, Agrani and Rupali banks get new MDs

3
Photo: Collected
Transport

Will Tokyo’s traffic model solve Dhaka’s gridlocks?

4
Representational Image. Photo: Collected
Bangladesh

Air passengers should plan extra commute time to airport: DMP

5
Arrest warrant against Habib Group chairman, 4 others 
Crime

Arrest warrant against Habib Group chairman, 4 others 

6
Ambassador of Switzerland to Bangladesh Nathalie Chuard. Photo: Courtesy
Bangladesh

Bangladesh never asked for particular info from Swiss bank: Ambassador

EMAIL US
[email protected]
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2022
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - [email protected]

For advertisement- [email protected]