Cricket: Zimbabwe suspends test status until 2007

HARARE - Zimbabwe's embattled cricket administrators today voted to suspend their struggling national team from test cricket at the first meeting of a government-appointed interim committee.

"The interim board decided to suspend Zimbabwe's participation in test matches until early next year," statement from Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) said.

"The decision ... was reached by ZC after consideration of the recent performances by the national and A teams."

Seven of the last 10 tests contested by Zimbabwe have been lost by an innings and 26 of the last 28 one-day internationals have also ended in defeat, many by huge margins.

The African nation has, however, decided to continue playing international one-day cricket for the next year.

The interim board was formed after a government takeover of cricket on January 6 following allegations of mismanagement by administrators.

The statement added: "The young teams remain full of potential and hopes abound for their development into a strong and competitive performer on the test arena.

"ZC is now putting in place a programme to galvanise the development of the Zimbabwe squads. It will work with other test nations and the ICC (International Cricket Council) itself to realise this objective."

ZC interim board chairman Peter Chingoka said he was confident Zimbabwe would be competitive in the one-day arena.

"While the side goes through the programme to prepare it adequately for the rigours of test cricket, ZC has no doubt the team will be competitive in its ODI commitments under the future tours programme," he said.

ZC will now approach the West Indies Cricket Board with a view to playing only one-dayers and not test matches on their scheduled tour to the Caribbean in April.

The statement said it would do the same with other international boards "for the other fixtures under the future tours programme (FTP)".

"The Zimbabwe cricket team will then only resume its full programme during the tour to Sri Lanka in February, 2007, subject to the finalisation of the FTP for which the chief executives are meeting in Dubai next month," the statement added.

* Timeline of the Zimbabwe cricket crisis

2003

Feb 10 - Andy Flower and Henry Olonga wear black armbands in Zimbabwe's opening match of the 2003 World Cup against Namibia in Harare to protest against what they call "death of democracy" in their country.

Feb 13 - Date of England's scheduled World Cup match against Zimbabwe in Harare. The match was cancelled after England refused to travel to the Zimbabwean capital, citing safety concerns.

2004

April 2 - Heath Streak's tenure as captain ends after he questions the composition of the selection panel. Tatenda Taibu, 20, is installed as the youngest international captain ever.

April 15 - Thirteen players with 257 test caps between them go on strike.

April 25 - An inexperienced Zimbabwe team are dismissed for a world-record low 35 in a one-day international against Sri Lanka.

May 10 - The Zimbabwe Cricket Union (ZCU) fires the rebel players.

June 10 - The International Cricket Council (ICC) suspends Zimbabwe's remaining tests for 2004.

2005

Sept 1 - Zimbabwe Cricket (formerly the ZCU) announces new, performance-based contracts for players. The players reject the contracts.

Nov 24 - Taibu cuts all ties with Zimbabwean cricket, citing mismanagement by administrators, unhappiness with the new contracts and threats against him and his family.

Dec 5 - ZC chairman Peter Chingoka and managing director Ozias Bvute are arrested under the Exchange Control Act. They are held for two nights for questioning and released without charge.

Dec 22 - The Zimbabwe Professional Cricketers' Association announces that "no player will train or avail himself for national duty". The strike is prompted by dissatisfaction with the "continued tenure" of Chingoka and Bvute, the non-payment of salaries and transport issues.

2006

Jan 6 - Zimbabwe's government takes over the running of cricket in the country with officials saying they are prepared for any repercussions, including the possibility of the southern African nation losing its test status. Government installs a new interim ZC board, with Chingoka reinstated as chairman.

Jan 18 - The interim board decides to suspend Zimbabwe's participation in test matches until early 2007 on account of the poor performances of its teams.


- REUTERS