PRESS RELEASE: Zimbabwe Cricket meets sports minister

Under-pressure Zimbabwe Cricket have released a press statement after a meeting with sport and recreation ministers Makhosini Hlongwane.

We publish it in full below:

The Minister of Sport and Recreation, the Honourable Makhosini Hlongwane, had a meeting today with officials from the Sports and Recreation Commission and Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC).
The meeting touched on a number of issues, chief among them the current poor performance of the Zimbabwe senior men’s cricket team and what ZC is doing about the matter.
ZC chairman Tavengwa Mukuhlani outlined the various intervention measures which the organisation is implementing and also the turn-around strategy that the new board is undertaking.
The meeting noted that while there are time-lines for the implementation of the intervention measures, it will take time for their positive effects to be felt since development is a process.
The meeting was also advised that both the senior and Zimbabwe A teams will have in 2016 double the game time they had in 2015.
With regards to the concern that half the current national squad comprises young or new players who require more game time and exposure to become competitive, ZC will ensure that the national selection panel casts its net wider in search of players who have the necessary experience to strengthen the team.

At the same time, concerted efforts are being made to approach cricketers in the diaspora who are eligible to play for Zimbabwe.
The meeting noted that the welfare of the players is critical and should be given precedence to ensure stability.
The meeting also noted that Zimbabwe is a multiracial society and as such there is no room for racism, and that selection should be based on merit.
The meeting expressed hope that the effect of all the intervention measures will see an improvement in Zimbabwe’s world rankings from 2016 onwards.
The meeting also called for the speedy devolution to the provinces and that in the process of promoting the game, especially in rural schools, there should be improvisation to make up for the absence of proper equipment and kit whose high costs have so hindered the spread of cricket to the hitherto marginalised communities.