Silver lining for Zim cricket
BY Zimbabwe's usual standards, 2020 was not much quieter than the average year when it came to the amount of cricket played. Although they took part in only 14 matches in all formats, three of them were Tests and all of them were against what we might term “top nine opposition”. For comparison, 2019 had brought 21 completed matches, only two of which were against “top nine nations” and none of them were in the longest format.
The step up in quality of opposition showed in the results; they won just a solitary game, a tied ODI in Pakistan where they triumphed in the Super Over. A drawn Test at home to Sri Lanka in January was the other creditable result. The better performances continued to be carried by trusty veterans, as the lack of regular international cricket held back the development of a younger generation who are still trying to find their feet at the highest level. There was one exception though — 20-year-old Wesley Madhevere struck two half-centuries on the tour of Pakistan.
The pandemic
There was a time not so long ago when a postponed visit by India would have brought questions about whether Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) could continue as a going concern. That was in 2015 when they were US$27 million in debt, and every drop of revenue was being sucked into servicing the interest. Instead, India's withdrawal from a whiteball tour due to COVID-19 was offset by news that ZC was out of debt for the first time in a decade and a half.
Incoming tours by Ireland, Afghanistan and the Netherlands were also scratched off by the pandemic, along with a visit to Australia. That was disappointing from the playing perspective given that 2020 was supposed to be Zimbabwe's busiest year on the field for a long time, offering the kind of regular cricket that would improve their consistency. Yet money was probably saved by not hosting some of the tours, while others have been postponed rather than cancelled.
The women's team did not play a single game in 2020. They had expected to take part in a quadrangular with Ireland, Netherlands and Thailand in April, but that series was scrapped in the wake of COVID-19's outbreak.
What about domestic cricket?
Although the 2019-20 season was voided after the pandemic halted the first-class and 50-over competitions in their tracks, ZC's improved financial standing allowed them to relaunch the game domestically in October, building from the bottom up. The club scene, which had sat in ruins for the better part of two decades, was brought back to life with a new 45-over competition that comprised nine teams around the country playing 36 matches.
When the Logan Cup resumed in December, it included a fifth first-class side as the Rocks returned for the first time in seven years. There were also five County players present in the competition, giving the overall quality of play a muchneeded boost.
Perhaps even more exciting was the launch of two new women's competitions, the Fifty50 Challenge and the Women's T20 Cup, as ZC finally started to fulfill their obligations to the women's game.
Person of the year
When Tavengwa Mukuhlani took over as ZC chairman in 2015, genuine questions were being asked about whether the organisation could remain solvent and maintain its Test status. Zimbabwe held well-deserved pariah status at the ICC, and the common consensus was that they would “go the way of Kenya”. Five years later they have erased their legacy debts — three years ahead of schedule — and can look forward with uncharacteristic optimism.
They have a sense of goodwill among most other ICC members, having enjoyed a transparent, collaborative relationship with the global governing body and were recently awarded hosting rights for the next World Cup qualifiers after the success of the tournament in 2018.
In the last five years Mukuhlani has weathered storms from ZC's debtors, dubious ICC members, changes in government and the pent-up anger of a public who assumed that his board was surely as corrupt as its predecessors, and now has a solid set of accounts to show for its efforts — and from which a future can be built.
What’s in store for 2021?
Hopefully a fair amount of cricket. An engagement with Afghanistan that will comprise three T20s and two Tests from the end of January kikcs things off. While the tour was originally scheduled to take place in India, it may now happen in the UAE or Zimbabwe.
According to the Future Tours Programme, Zimbabwe expect to host Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan (again), and travel to Ireland. That schedule includes no fewer than eight Tests, which is as many as they have played in the last three and a half years. The increase in domestic competition should only serve to make them more competitive at international level, too. ZC also hope that 2020's India tour — which was part of the ODI Championship — will take place in 2021, but they will need to join the queue for the attention of world cricket's most soughtafter team.
One to look out for next year
Although it attracted little international interest, Blessing Muzarabani's return from Kolpak cricket — a year ahead of schedule thanks to Brexit - was a significant boost for Zimbabwe, who lacked an attack leader as Kyle Jarvis struggled with injury.
Muzarabani made a swift impression, taking 5 for 49 to force the tie with Pakistan before clinching the Super Over with two wickets. The 6ft 6in fast bowler is still only 24, but is wiser and more experienced for his two seasons in English cricket with Northamptonshire.