When sport mirrors politics

ve Pro40 title. Factor in Heath Streak’s efforts with both bat and ball for Warwickshire and you get a picture of the success the former Zimbabwean test players have experienced on the county circuit.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe conceded 418 runs in the 3rd ODI against South Africa, and went on to lose by 171 runs. More recently they were bowled out by the West Indies for 85 runs in the ICC Trophy, were chased down inside 15 overs and dropped catches along the way. This result typifies the story of Zimbabwean cricket over the last 5 or so years.
During this time the administrators of the game in Zimbabwe have managed to display the same lack of unity, professionalism and morality that has dogged the politics of the country, with a combination of death threats, alleged racism in the selection policy and infighting resulting in a domestic game that now resembles a game of garden cricket in terms of quality and organization.
In a country where the political situation is in a state of perpetual chaos, cricket is in danger of being run into the ground by politically motivated administrators, who seem determined to ruin what was effectively a well-maintained sport with a healthy domestic cup. There is still enough public interest to successfully promote the game in a country where there is little to cheer at the moment. There is as much democracy being displayed among the suits of Zimbabwe Cricket as there is being displayed bythe Mugabe regime.
Since the rebel players left the squad the team has struggled, lost its test status, suffered a further exodus of quality players such as Tatenda Taibu and Andy Blignaut and has seen a number of young players being blooded into the world of international cricket. Look at the statistics and the word blooded should read bloodied, as since 2004 Zimbabwe have not won a test and have won a handful of ODI’s against Bangladesh, which hardly counts as progress, but is seen as a major accomplishment considering the age and experience of the current squad.
Players as young as 17 have been thrust into the international scene and have been carted around the park when bowling, had their techniques exposed when batting and have been on the end of some huge defeats. That cannot be good for any cricketer, especially a high-school leaver with practically no experience.
The future of cricket in Zimbabwe lies with the young kids in the high density suburbs who want to emulate the success of former captain Tatenda Taibu, batsman Hamilton Masakadza and all-rounder Elton Chigumbura. Established international cricketers who have expressed a desire to return to the Test arena, such as Andy Flower and Heath Streak, could only benefit the local game and add stability to a team whose average age is 21. But time is running out for them as the current administration shows no sign of changing.
The problem is that no-one at the ICC is prepared to get involved. Let’s face it, why should they? Cricket in Zimbabwe is often seen as the past time of privileged, usually white, beneficiaries of private school education. Whilst this is no longer true, it is still a game requiring specialist coaching, expensive equipment and a lot of commitment from the player from a young age. All of this in a country with the lowest life expectancy in the world, 80% unemployment and 1000% inflation? The ICC is not in the business of regime change.
What could the ICC possibly do? Completely ban Zimbabwe from ever playing Test Cricket again? New Zealand took 26 years and 45 matches to win its first test. Zimbabwe took 3 years. Should they revoke their ODI status? No-one is talking about banning Bangladesh based on results are they? Any complete ban would surely kill the game off for good. Mixing sports and politics is recipe for disaster, and while the administrators continue their mismanagement and power struggles, the players are left with the fact that they are considered a walkover by most teams.