IN 2003, Zimbabwe Cricket saw a mass exodus of experienced players which later became known as the “rebels”.
On The Crease with Vumi Moyo
There are some striking similarities in the events that preceded the rebels and what is happening currently. On the Crease prays that we not going down that route again. Nobody really wins.
There has been an increasingly mercenary attitude from some, if not all players. The recent series were characterised by threats of boycotts and strike action before vital matches as if the players didn’t have enough problems on the field of play.
Players recently formed a workers’ union and an article in this publication last week looked at the formation of the players’ union in South Africa. The one distinct difference is that the players’ representative there tried to bridge the gap between the board and players.
The current situation cannot be healthy as players and the board are constantly at logger heads. There has to be an amicable solution sooner than later.
The impasse between Chris Gayle and his board left the international scene without one of the best players for more than a couple of years.
Players also need to be careful not to be influenced by those that have viable alternatives. At the height of the rebels, some disgruntled players and former board members promised lucrative overseas contracts to all who did not play for the country.
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This never materialised and a lot of promising cricket careers were cut very short as they resorted to playing “Village Cricket” in England. I can’t help to wonder how much money Andy Blignaut would have made in the Indian Premier League?
Recently, promising strike bowler Kyle Jarvis ended his contract and opted for county cricket. He hopes to one day make the English side. We wish him the best of luck and hope the decision will improve him as a cricketer. Top leg spinner Graham Cremer left camp earlier this week without a clear reason. I hope players are wise enough to act on their own accord and not blindly follow people with their own agendas.
The situation might not be perfect, but what happened to national pride? What happened to playing for your country because it’s the right thing to do?
It is hard to understand for the common man how after an embarrassing defeat, the very next day you are refusing to train because you haven’t received your match fees! Star Tuskers middle order batsman Sean Williams has apparently refused to play in the Test match until his dues are paid up. We hope we could compete in the Test matches and play the five available days!
Zimbabwe will have to do without regular skipper Brendon Taylor who has become a father for the first time. Congratulations are in order, all the best. Zimbabwe won the first one-day international against Pakistan with a brilliant all-round showing at Harare Sports Club.
As we all were in dreamland about the first series win against a major Test-playing side, we got a rude awakening losing the next two games by more or less a 100 runs. We bemoan the lack of continuity in the team.
