Zim target cricket power countries
AS winter makes way for spring Down Under, bedlam surrounds Australia’s hugely popular football codes. e AFL and NRL seasons are at the pointy end and everything else is basically shunted into the backdrop.
Even cricket, the country’s national sport with Australian rules football and rugby league split up amongst the states and territories, is almost invisible this time of year bar an Ashes away series, a scandal or threat of David Warner ditching the maligned Big Bash League for more lucrative pastures.
us Zimbabwe’s first bilateral series in Australia since 2003-04 - seriously, that’s not a typo - has been something of an afterthought amongst mainstream sports fans. e three ODIs kick off on August 28 and played entirely in Townsville, the coastal city in north eastern Queensland, with matches starting at 9.40am local time (2: 40pm Zimbabwe time).
is series might be relatively obscure but it means a lot to smaller Full Member nation Zimbabwe, who have for so long struggled for opportunities to play power countries Australia, India and England.
Underlining the difficulty, it was third time lucky for this series amid the ODI Super League competition, which will be strangely canned after this inaugural edition. Australia were meant to host Zimbabwe for three ODIs in August 2020 but the series was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic and attempts to reschedule last year were stymied by Australia’s then border closures and strict quarantine requirements.
ere were fears the series might be scrapped entirely, given Australia’s suspect track record of playing smaller countries, before eventually being ironed out resulting in a whirlwind week-long tour for Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe’s officials had hoped a oneoff Test and/or three T20Is could be included in the tour but those attempts were rebuffed by Cricket Australia, who cited its “very busy” schedule.
Very much the underdog in these negotiations, Zimbabwe’s chiefs had to concede although they are relishing the scheduling of consecutive ODI series featuring powerhouses having just hosted three ODIs against mighty India, a guaranteed money spinner of a contest.
But it doesn’t mean Zimbabwe will suddenly start regularly competing against the so-called ‘Big ree’ in the coming years. In the recently released Future Tours Programme (FTP) for the 2023-27 cycle, Zimbabwe are not scheduled to face Australia, India or England in bilateral series.
Zimbabwe’s administrators, however, are still hopeful fixtures can be arranged during the cycle.
“It’s a work in progress. We are positive we can get fixtures sorted but there are no clear windows identified yet,” Zimbabwe Cricket chairman Tavengwa Mukuhlani told me.
Cricket Australia’s apparent desire to once again fixture series in its winter months might aid Zimbabwe’s chances of finally ending a Test drought against Australia
dating back to October 2003.
India’s motivations can be hard to read and they do have a better track record of playing smaller nations compared to their powerful counterparts although cynicism remains over their all-conquering governing body merely trying to curry favour on the divisive ICC board. Zimbabwe, according to sources, did not vote for Indiabacked Greg Barclay at the last chair election in late 2020.
England, meanwhile, appear the most unlikely to play Zimbabwe due to political differences stemming back to Robert Mugabe. Although a thawing of tension could pave the way for a belated awakening of a contest that has been dormant for 15 years.
“From a cricket point of view, that impasse is a thing of the past. e ECB is open to playing us,” Mukuhlani said. “We have played Scotland. Counties Derbyshire and Durham visited us before Covid. We want more Counties to tour here. e dynamics have changed between us and we hope that will lead to series being arranged in the coming years.”
With a broadcast deal worth only around $1 million a year, a far cry from the billions the big boys receive, Zimbabwe are especially reliant on an attractive FTP. "Commercially we need a strong FTP to sell as an asset to the broadcasters,” Mukuhlani said. “at can only be done if we play the bigger nations. If that doesn’t happen then you don't have a strong asset to sell to broadcasters.”
Mukuhlani echoed the sentiments of Emirates Cricket boss Mubashshir Usmani who told me recently that the cashedup UAE-based T20 league could serve as a template for Associate countries to be “sustainable”.
“If you don’t have a strong broadcast deal what is your next income revenue? It's the (T20 franchise) leagues,” he said. “Many countries are looking at them and seeing if they can get an investment.
“We want to strike a balance. We want to play enough Test cricket, but there is a commercial challenge.”
While those familiar headaches remain, Zimbabwe are trying to enjoy basking in the rare limelight of playing marquee teams even though the ODI series in Australia will be overshadowed by rival sports.
“is is great development for the players who are all excited,” Mukuhlani said. “Hopefully it’s the start of something substantial with Australia. We would love to play Tests against them.” — Forbes.