Zim Cricket boss quits:

ZIMBABWE’S failure to qualify for next year’s ICC World Cup has claimed another big scalp after it emerged yesterday that the union’s managing director Faisal Hasnain was stepping down from his position because of the debacle.

Hasnain had set the 2019 World Cup qualification in England as one of his immediate goals but the national team failed to cross the line in the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier which Zimbabwe hosted in March.

The Chevrons disappointed after falling to United Arab Emirates in the decisive match they needed to win and qualify.

The failure led to the axing of coach Heath Streak and his entire technical team which also included batting coach Lance Klusener and bowling coach Douglas Hondo.

And yesterday Hasnain, who had served exactly a year, also announced he was officially resigning from his position with immediate effect.

“The main reason for my resignation is the non-qualification by ZC for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019. One of the main objectives that I had set myself was for ZC to qualify for the CWC 2019,’’ he said.

‘‘And last year I had advised my management team that I would step down if ZC did not qualify.

“Following the non-qualification of ZC, I was requested by ZC to complete the two major projects that I was working on, namely to ensure that the proposed winter matches with Australia and Pakistan go ahead, and to deal with the ongoing financial issues with the ICC.

‘‘Both matters have now been effectively concluded from my side.’’

The 56-year-old finance and management expert was with the ICC for 12 years in two stints. Apart from the United Arab Emirates, he has also worked in England, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.

The Pakistan-born Hasnain joined ZC at the end of April last year, replacing Wilfred Mukondiwa, who had reached retirement age.

Under his charge, ZC managed to bid and successfully hosted this year’s ICC World Cup Qualifier which brought together 10 nations from across the globe.

Significant strides have also been made in the past year with the association negotiating with former captain Brendan Taylor and paceman Kyle Jarvis to return to represent their country from their stints playing county cricket in England.

Hasnain had also aimed to commit his energies in helping Zimbabwe achieve better rankings in the ODI and T20I cricket and to institute a vibrant domestic club cricket system that would feed into the national team.

ZC chairman, Tavengwa Mukuhlani, said the union had been left poorer.

ZC are still trying to recover from the country’s failure to qualify for the World Cup.

“While I am saddened by the departure of Faisal, ZC appreciates and respects the reasons for his decision. During his time with ZC, Faisal played a role in finalising the new ZC Strategic Plan and contributed to the complex discussions with the ICC with regard to the ICC’s new financial and constitutional model.

“ZC was also able to secure the hosting rights for the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2018, hosted a successful event, and we also hosted the first ever visit to Zimbabwe by an ICC Chairman. We wish Faisal the very best in his future endeavours,” said Mukuhlani.

ZC will shortly start interviewing suitable candidates to fill the senior position.