zimcricketnews.com

ZC have issued a statement regarding Cricket Scotland's decision not to tour Zimbabwe for their scheduled Intercontinental Cup match, and in doing so have ruled out playing the match on neutral territory:

Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) has confirmed receiving official notification from Cricket Scotland about the Scottish governments directive not to tour Zimbabwe for the scheduled ICC Intercontinental Cup matches against the
Zimbabwe A team.

"The decision is regrettable," said ZC managing director Ozias Bvute. "We have consulted with our various authorities who have all ruled out the possibility of these matches being played in a neutral venue," he added.

"I remain of the belief that sport can build bridges and I have confidence that it can also act as a catalyst for healing and national unity. It is with this in mind that we hope that in the not too distant future, all the strained sporting relations will be restored for the common good of all," said Bvute.

Emphasis added. That puts the ball back in the ICC's court as to how the match should be handled, and with the two boards apparently unwilling to compromise they'll be left with a difficult decision as to what sanctions should be taken for failure to honour the fixture, and against which side.

Troubled cricketer Mark Vermuelen, released by Tuskers at the end of last season after disciplinary issues, has been signed for the new season by Mountaineers, according to the Daily News. The deal was confirmed by Mountaineers spokesman Godfrey Koti:

"He has his history, but he is a good man and a good player. We want to give him another chance. If you have noticed, we are more of a bowling side. A batsman of his calibre will add value to the team."

Even in light of Vermuelen's talent, you do have to wonder if this is his final chance. Hopefully he makes the most of it.
Daily News - Manicaland rescues bad boy Vermeulen

Scotland on Sunday reports that, acting on advice from the UK Foreign Office, Cricket Scotland have decided not to travel to Zimbabwe for their upcoming Intercontinental Cup fixture. Failure to honour the fixture would cost Scotland any hope of a place in the tournament final, but the paper reports that discussions are underway with the ICC about holding the fixture on neutral territory, as had originally been intended. The Scottish position on touring Zimbabwe does seem out-of-step with other nations at the moment, though, especially with Ireland - whose team is also drawn from Northern Ireland, a part of the UK - having already agreed to tour.
Scotland on Sunday - Saltires out of Zimbabwe tie on Foreign Office advice

CricInfo are carrying an itinerary for Ireland's trip to Zimbabwe, from which I'm assuming that they've formally agreed to tour. The schedule is for an Intercontinental Cup fixture against Zimbabwe XI, and three ODIs against the senior Zimbabwe side, with all matches to be played at Harare Sports Club. Here are the details:

20-23 September 2010	Zimbabwe XI v Ireland
26 September 2010	Zimbabwe v Ireland: 1st ODI
28 September 2010	Zimbabwe v Ireland: 2nd ODI
30 September 2010	Zimbabwe v Ireland: 3rd ODI

With Ireland having recently overtaken Zimbabwe in the ICC ODI rankings, the three ODIs would give Zimbabwe a chance to reclaim 10th place.

The full fixture list for the coming domestic season has now been released (with the exception of the Stanbic T20, for which we have a window but no specific matches) - you can find them on our Domestic Fixtures page. The main change this season is with the 'B' competition - last year this was a simple series of 2-day matches, this year we have a full programme of 3-day, 1-day and T20 matches.
[Source: ZC]

The BBC reports that Cricket Scotland will meet tomorrow to discuss their upcoming Intercontinental Cup fixture against Zimbabwe XI. Pressure is on the Scots to travel to Zimbabwe to fulfil the fixture, instead of playing on neutral territory as originally scheduled - in fact, the BBC report claims that if the Scots refuse to travel to Zimbabwe they could be faced with forfeiting the fixture.

Zim sports minister met the Cricket Scotland last week, and stated in a Twitter post after the meeting that he was confident that the Scots would tour. We'll find out soon enough if his confidence was misplaced or not.
BBC Sport - Scotland could face Zimbabwe match dilemma

One of my first thoughts when hearing about Zimbabwe's proposed trip to Pakistan was for player safety, and whether ZC had consulted its players before making the approach to the PCB. Via an article at Cricket365, ZC have now confirmed that "some" players were consulted before the approach was made, and that whether or not to take part in the tour would be left up to individual players. These comments from ZC MD, Ozias Bvute:

"In principle we are in agreement. We are still discussing the security arrangements around the tour and it will need to be finalised at a ZC meeting in the second week of September.

"We have had preliminary discussions with a few of the players to hear their feelings on the matter. We would work on the basis that those who feel comfortable would make the trip, while those who do not can stay behind. No-one will be forced to tour."

Bvute also confirmed that the tour would take place before the end of the year, which narrows the available window down to early December.
Cricket365 - Zimbabwe agree to tour Pakistan 'in principle'

Zimbabwe Cricket has confirmed that West Indies legend Brian Charles Lara will be the guest of honour for the 2010 CBZ Bank Cricket Awards which will be held on the 3rd September in Harare.

The Trinidad and Tobago born Brian Lara is one of the most decorated cricketers in the history of the game, arguably one of the most elegant shot makers and renowned for his big scores.

He holds the record for the highest individual score in first class cricket with an unbeaten 501 for English County side Warwickshire against Durham at Edgbaston in 1994 a milestone which still stands today. He also holds the highest individual score in Test history when he scored 400 for the West Indies against England in 2004.

Lara the former West Indies captain, now 41, retired from the game in April 2007 after the ICC World Cup which was hosted in the Caribbean.

Mr Lara will be delivering a key note address on the evening.
[Source: ZC]

A tour of Pakistan by Zimbabwe is looking ever more likely, but Cricinfo have been looking at Pakistan's schedule over the next few months and wondering where the series could be slotted in - the side have a very busy period ahead of them, with series against South Africa (in October / November) and New Zealand (in December / January / February) already on the calendar. If the series is to be held before the World Cup in February 2011, that leaves just two possible windows: early December when, according to the Future Tours Programme Zimbabwe are due to be playing Bangladesh (although no details of that series have yet been released), or mid-February, immediately before the World Cup begins. The February window seems more likely at the moment.
Cricinfo - Zimbabwe commit to flood-relief games in Pakistan

With the domestic cricket season just over two weeks away, the Tuskers franchise cricket team have organized a three day team building camp scheduled for a farm near Turk Mine from the 24th to the 26th of this month. The camp will see the team engage in some team building and strategic planning activities ahead of a season that promises to be both exciting and competitive.

The Tuskers squad began their pre-season training in July under the watchful eye of the seasoned and widely travelled former Zimbabwe captain and now Tuskers assistant coach Heath Streak, and according to him the team has shown a lot of commitment and determination in preparing for the new season.

"The guys are raring to go. They have been working on their fitness and would have started really getting into it now. The camp would give us a chance to strategize on how we will approach the three formats of the game, namely 4 day game, one day game and T20. We will be travelling with a psychologist and the team fitness trainer who will help us out," said Streak

Team captain Gavin Ewing believes this season will be a better one as the players are in an excellent frame of mind and the team spirit is great.

"The guys are very excited about the camp. It will give us the chance to get to know each other in a different environment hence understand each other better. We have been working hard for each other and everyone wants to see the next player succeed. At the end of last season we showed the type of cricket we are capable of playing and we will be looking to pick up from there and win some trophies this season," said Ewing

Ewing also expressed appreciation for the support the executive team had given them during the pre season period and said with continued support and the hard work the team is putting in, they were confident of putting in a formidable challenge for the honors this season.

Meanwhile, the planning for the coming season has gathered momentum with the entire Tusker’s team holding a strategic meeting last month and an annual general meeting for the Tuskers franchise management committee scheduled for the 26th of August at Queens Sports Club.
[Source: ZC]