zimcricketnews.com

ZC Chairman Peter Chingoka has written to the members of the ICC's Executive Committee asking them not to suspend Zimbabwe from international cricket for "political reasons", especially given that no other sports governing body is currently considering such a ban.

In support of ZC, Chingoka has claimed that the board is not a political body and could not be held responsible for the turmoil inside the country. That view is disputed by a former cricket administrator who spoke anonymously to CricInfo:

"The reality is that nobody survives inside Zimbabwe today unless they are linked to the ruling elite, especially in an organisation with access to precious foreign currency. The board are heavily politicised and anyone who suggests otherwise is blind. Chingoka and his cronies are desperate to portray an image of a brave souls standing up for cricket against tremendous odds. The reality is the quite the opposite."

That view was supported by a former Zimbabwe Test player, who also spoke anonymously:

"The board have destroyed grassroots cricket here and all that is left is a paper-thin veneer of normality. These guys have caused the world game, not to mention the ICC, no end of embarrassment and they've not even done so in defence of cricket. It's all about self interest. Nobody wants to play us, nobody wants to tour here. What's the point of maintaining this charade?"

I do wish people would put their names to attacks like these - although given the current situation in Zimbabwe I can't really blame them. While it's true that neither FIFA, the IOC nor the IRB are currently planning any action against Zimbabwean sides, the ICC is coming under very heavy pressure from a number of sources - and unlike the other three organisations named, it's also clear that in cricket Zimbabwe are currently "overrated" in that, based on the current strength of the side, they don't merit Full Member status. That gives the ICC space to take action on the basis of playing standards, and not politics. Next week will show just which direction they'll jump in...
CricInfo - Chingoka urges ICC not to make political decision