Zimbabwe Cricket In Trouble

The Sports and Recreation Commission that is in charge for cricket in Zimbabwe has suspended Zimbabwe Cricket with immediate effect on Friday. The acting managing director Givemore Makoni has also been suspended from his position.
The Story
The conflict began with the election of Tavengwa Mukuhlani’s  as chairman. Although the state-owned organization issued a directive last week to suspend the electoral process of ZC, the board went on to do the same and elected Mukuhlani for a four-year term. This didn’t go well with SC and they took the final call of suspension.
Following some complaints about the nomination process and the violation of the board constitution, SC decided issued the release and called for the suspension of the electoral process. Explaining their act of suspension SRC said that it was forced to take the decision following several issues, controversies and violations.  “It cannot be in the national interest that a national sporting association continues to conduct itself in a manner that it suggests that it and its officials are a law unto themselves. Certain of its office bearers, past and present, have been the subject matter of allegations involving fraud exchange control violations and other acts of corruption and criminality related to the monies and assets of Zimbabwe Cricket and the International Cricket Council.”
“Several Controversies”
They further added how Zimbabwe Cricket has been the epitome of controversies since long and a subject of ignorance in terms of the development of the game and infrastructure as well. “It is a matter of documented public knowledge that Zimbabwe Cricket has been the subject matter of several controversies over the years. There have been allegations of outright disregard for its own constitution, neglect of the development of the game and related infrastructure throughout the country.”
The agency finally said how they took the decision keeping the country’s interest in mind like earlier without the involvement of ICC.”At different times, and on at least two different occasions, the SRC has intervened, suspended officials and board members, without the involvement of ICC, respecting the application of the domestic laws of Zimbabwe, particularly in those instances where the concerns of the respective parties coincided in the ICC’s articles and Zimbabwe Cricket’s own constitution.”
On the other hand, the suspended chairman termed the SRC directive illegal and said, “SRC are forcing us to follow an illegal instruction.” David Ellman-Brown, Ahmed Ibrahim, Charlie Robertson, Cyprian Mandenge, Robertson Chinyengetere, Sekesai Nhokwara, and Duncan Frost have been given the charge to run the cricketing affairs in the country for the time being.
 
ICC Intervention
Although Zimbabwe Cricket of ICC, the SRC clarified that it also comes under the jurisdiction of the laws o Zimbabwe as well and hence they can take the decision. “The fact that Zimbabwe Cricket is a Full Member of the International Cricket Council does not mean that it is not subject to the laws of Zimbabwe, in particular, the provisions of the SRC Act.”
Zimbabwe cricket team is currently touring the Netherlands for limited over series. They have lost ODI series 2-0 against the Netherlands and now getting ready for the Twenty 20. Cricket in the country has a long history of being in a turbulent situation due to political concerns. They have only started to regain the momentum after beating Bangladesh last year. Now, this turmoil will once again keep the team and cricket in Zimbabwe in deep soup. Now it will be interesting to see how ICC reacts to this.