Cricket: Government takes over Zimbabwe cricket

LONDON - Zimbabwe's government has taken over the running of cricket in the southern African country, the website of the game's ruling body (ICC) said today.

The national team announced last month it would go on indefinite strike in protest at the way the national governing body was running the game in Zimbabwe, the latest in a series of rows between top players and officials.

The ICC website said the government had installed a new board to run the game and Zimbabwean officials said they were prepared for any repercussions including the possibility of the country losing its test status.

"The Zimbabwe government has finally taken over Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) in a shattering move that will almost certainly usher the ultimate demise of the game in the country," said the ICC website.

In an address to the media in Harare, Gibson Mashingaidze, an army brigadier and chairman of the government's sports and recreation commission, announced the reinstatement of Peter Chingoka as chairman of an interim board to run ZC.

The brigadier said the government was prepared for any repercussions.

"We are prepared to lose test status," he said. "The government is saying we are starting afresh. We are not bothered."

Mashingaidze added that Friday's decision was made with the blessing of President Robert Mugabe.

"The head of state is aware of this," he said.

The ICC's offices in Dubai were closed and no one from cricket's governing body was available for comment.

- REUTERS