A Shot in the Heart – An Analysis of Mis-Governance of Zimbabwe Cricket
Dr. Abhishek Srivastava
Post Doctoral Researcher
Mediterranean International Centre for Human Rights Research (MICHR)
Università "Mediterranea"
Di Reggio Calabria, Italy
Synopsis
On March 25, 1992, Zimbabwe was dismissed for 134, and England, in prophetic form, seemed poised to extend their dominance. However, just a few hours later, Zimbabwe orchestrated one of the most remarkable comebacks in modern cricket history, punching well above their weight.
Over the next decade, Zimbabwe consistently punched above their weight, showcasing immense promise despite facing significant setbacks. Their journey, marked by moments of brilliance, seemed to affirm their rightful place in the cricketing world. Highlights included a notable home victory against England in the 1996-97 season, a historic 1-0 series triumph in Pakistan, and a remarkable run in the 1999 World Cup, among other achievements.
Zimbabwe emerged as a beacon of promise, not only as a cricketing nation but as a country overall. Despite the impact of colonial rule from 1880 to 1965, which left the majority of the population marginalized while a small white minority held the reins of wealth and power, Zimbabwe garnered respect on the global stage. It earned the esteemed title of the "Breadbasket of Africa," reflecting its rich agricultural potential and significant contributions to the continent.
However, the land reforms implemented by Robert Mugabe between 1998 and 2001 sparked widespread unrest and deepened racial divisions within the country. The black community, seeking to address the injustices of colonial rule, saw violent seizures of white-owned farms, with some farmers being robbed or even killed. This turmoil extended to the cricketing arena, unsettling a team that had been performing impressively up until that point.
The era between 1995-2000, could be said as the golden years of Zimbabwe cricket; they achieved some major milestones and were able to build a team that could take on any team. However the radical changes of late 1990s and early 2000’s impacted the Zimbabwe cricket as well. The Zimbabwe Cricket Union ( ZCU) was mired by corruption, inefficiency and more so lack of planning to take game forward. This saw cricket falling far behind in terms of performance as the period of darkness engulfed the team. The team returned to Test cricket after a jitus of six years in 2011 but it was far from being competitive neither the board did improved, amid shouts of incompetency the board was suspended in 2019 for Government’s interference in the game.
Sadly the team has continued to fall below its junior team like Bangladesh, Afghanistan.
