zimcricketnews.com

Sports minister David Coltart was interviewed by SuperSport during their coverage of the Stanbic T20. Here's the clip in full.

Former Zim captain and current ZC Technical Director David Houghton has called for Zimbabwe to return to Test cricket sooner rather than later. In an interview with the Zimbabwe Independent, Houghton pointed out that Test matches would provide a better way for the current crop of players than the schedule of ODI and Intercontinental Cup matches that is currently in place:

"I know the administrators have their timeframe. But I think by playing in the longer version, it gives you time to hone your skills. It’s good practice for ODI cricket. In ODIs, it’s much more difficult for bowlers because they have to bowl in the right areas consistently; otherwise you get clobbered all over the park. As a batsman you don’t just have to bat to survive. You take risks. Basically in Test cricket you get time to recover."

He does, however, recognise that Zimbabwe will need to choose their opposition carefully when the Test return does come:

"Let’s pick sides close to us and then work up the ladder. Let’s get Bangladesh, play them on non-turning wickets. Let’s get West Indies and play them on a turning wicket, because they don’t particularly like wickets that turn."

He goes on to praise the new franchise system, which is bringing much needed depth to the player pool and providing some much-needed competition for places. The full interview can be read on the Independent's website.
Zimbabwe Independent - Let’s make early Test comeback — Houghton

In an interview with Bangladeshi newspaper Prothom Alo, Mark Vermeulen has claimed that both Grant Flower and Andy Blignaut are set to return to Zimbabwean cricket. The interview reports that Flower is currently completing a level 4 coaching course in the UK, and will return to Zimbabwe once that is complete, most likely as player/coach for one of the franchise sides. Blignaut's return is also described as 'almost certain'.

The full article is unfortunately not in English - thanks to forum member Detective RDS for translating the relevant portions, you can find the relevant forum thread here.
Prothom Alo - Mark Vermeulen Interview

Zimbabwe captain Prosper Utseya is hopeful of a better performance against Bangladesh in the Grameenphone Cup compared to the series at home in August which they lost 4-1.

"We have done pretty well against Kenya at home before coming here. We beat them 4-1 and hope to carry the momentum into the matches against Bangladesh. We are targeting an improved performance," said Utseya whose team reached Dhaka on Wednesday night.

Bangladesh have not lost a series to Zimbabwe in three years and have won 15 out of their last 19 meetings and Utseya acknowledged that the task at hand is a tough one.

"Playing any country in their home conditions is tough and looking at the performances in the last few series between the teams we will probably start as the underdogs. But there are a few new faces and some of the players have shown good form recently. We would give it our best and try to put pressure on Bangladesh."

Regarding the left-arm spin threat from Bangladesh the Zimbabwe skipper said they had done their homework.

"We have played against the Bangladesh spinners many times and we have worked on them a bit. We know that pitches here would suit them but we have better experience of the conditions now.

"I also feel that the presence of someone like Heath Streak in the coaching staff would be highly beneficial for our bowlers."

The visitors had an afternoon practice session at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. They kick off their tour with a warm up match against a BCB XI at the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah tomorrow. Another warm-up against the same side is scheduled for October 25. The first ODI of the five-game series is on October 27.

Zimbabwe captain Prosper Utseya (C), Team Manager Anesu Kafesu (L) and coach Walter Chawaguta at a media briefing in Mirpur today.

The Zimbabwe team warming up at the practice area of Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium

Charles Coventry (R) takes a catch as wicketkeeper Tatenda Taibu watches.

[Source: ZC Media Release. Images used in this article are © ZC]

ZC Managing Director Ozias Bvute gave an interview to The Herald's Robson Sharuko recently, talking up the recent changes to the domestic structure and administration of the game, and looking to the future. The version of the interview that's been posted online is somewhat edited, so for curiosity value - and completeness - you can find the full version below the cut. The interview talks about the return of the "rebels", the new franchise structure, the wealth of youth talent that Bvute believes exists in the country, and the return of Mark Vermeulen, amongst other subjects, and is well worth a read - even though it reads a bit like a press release in places. :)

The Sunday Mail has an interesting interview with former Zim bowler Bryan Strang who, after something of a personal voyage of discovery, is now looking for an opportunity to help in the quest for Zimbabwe's return to Test cricket - although so far, he'sstill waiting on the call from ZC. The interview also looks at his decision to leave the side in 2001:

“Personally at that time I was going through some personal problems, which sportsmen usually go through, what with the pressures and highs of competitive sport. So quitting was an easy decision for me then. Things got worse and when I tried to come back again in 2004 and I got injured in a car accident which threatened to nearly ruin my career forever as I tore tendons in my bowling hand.”

“It is when I was in South Africa, upon a chance meeting with a little girl whose words of encouragement gave me a wake-up call and so began my rehabilitation. I was in South Africa working on a road and one afternoon, on my day off I went into town to do some business, around midday. As I was tired and hot I decided to take a few minutes to rest. At this point in time a little girl came by and told me not to worry because things were going to get better. The words rang in my head and forced me to make some life-altering decisions which led me back home and ready to give back what I could.”

Strang is now coaching at Lilfordia School, where Alastair Campbell and his father are also heavily involved, and looking for opportunities to get involved with the national setup again:

“I am doing well coaching now and teaching which I love, but I want to contribute more. Hopefully I can be of use counselling the current crop of players or maybe coach in the junior structures. If needed to play I am more than willing as I feel fit and ready but it’s not really a priority like coaching which I really want to do."

Quick, give that man a job…
Sunday Mail - I want to return and help — Strang

Propser Utseya and Mark Vermeulen have been speaking to the Zimbabwe Independent ahead of the visit by Bangladesh. For Utseya, it's time for the side to put past defeats by the Tiger behind them and play to their full potential:

"We’ve reached a stage where we’ve lost too many times to Bangladesh. I think how we play their spinners will be key. We will put them (the spinners) under pressure from the very onset. [...] We had a meeting in which we said we want to play cricket the Zim way. We know we will be facing three quality spinners and we have to be prepared to face up to it. We said we need to have a killer punch. That cannot be taught or practised. Guys have to be hungry."

"Far too often the bowlers got us in good positions but we ended up throwing that away, and it goes back to the Sri Lanka series when I thought we should have picked a win or two. (But) there is good competition among the players now. We now have the likes of Mark (Vermeulen) back in the fold and Vusi (Sibanda) is also here. There is pressure on everyone to perform."

Vermeulen is heavily tipped to appear in the final squad for the series, and has been training hard in anticipation of his return to top-flight cricket:

"I’m much fitter, I’m hitting the ball alright. I didn’t have a long off-season, busy in the nests hitting the ball. It’s been five years; so obviously it’s going be great. I hope to get another chance again and hopefully get big runs for Zim."

The first ODI in the 4-match series is on 9th August.
Zimbabwe Independent - We’ve lost too many times — Utseya

ZCN recently had a chance to put a few questions to Alester Maregwede, who made his Test debut for Zimbabwe in 2004 and who has recently been playing in Australia. Despite having been out of the national picture for a while, Alester is still hoping to return to the top of the Zimbabwean game - but we started with asking him about where his cricketing career began. Read on for the full interview...

The Independent has an interview today with former Zim captain Heath Streak, in which Streak comments on the current state of cricket in Zimbabwe and notably does not rule out his future involvement - although he accepts that his playing days at international level are probably behind him. Highlights include his thoughts on domestic standards:

“We probably need to streamline domestic first-class cricket so as to have fewer teams but high-level cricket. We need to raise the quality of domestic cricket.”

...and what is needed to get the side back to being ready for Test cricket:

“I think they are quite comfortable playing ODI and Twenty20 cricket… Zim has always been competitive in ODIs. It will take a while to get back to the top level again. It won’t happen overnight. You need high quality coaching at the top. You need to have your back-up staff: sports psychologists, fitness trainers and specialist coaches. You need to have access to these professionals. We don’t have as much compared to, say, England or Australia, but we need to take advantage of what we can provide.”

As mentioned, he doesn't rule out future involvement with ZC - although his ICL contract, which runs until 2010, may get in the way of any involvement unless the BCCI and ICL can resolve their differences:

“At the moment my priority is my contractual obligation in the ICL, but if something of that sort comes up, I will look at it and see where things go from there. Look, I would want to give back to Zimbabwe cricket what it gave me. My country has always come first in everything I do. There is a lot I can do and I’m hopeful for the future of the game here. I also want my boy (four-year old son Harry) to have a future in cricket here.”

He also back those who say that Zimbabwe's "isolation" by certain countries should end, now that the unity government is in place:

“Maybe because of this unity government people will look at us in different light. Security is not an issue here compared to Sri Lanka. You can’t put us in the same bracket with such countries. I understand that in the past these boycotts to Zimbabwe were based on moral and political issues. But I would like to see these countries changing their stance by helping cricket in Zimbabwe. It’s a wonderful opportunity for them to build relationships with African people. It’s good for the morale of the people of Zimbabwe and for cricket.”

Hear, hear. There's plenty more in the full interview, which can be found on the Independent's website.
Zimbabwe Independent - Streak Ready to Give Back to Zim Cricket

In a wide-ranging interview with the Zimbabwe Independent, David Coltart, the new Minister for Education, Sports and Culture, has promised wide-ranging improvements in Zimbabwe's sporting infrastructure - and with the Minister being a keen cricket supporter, the Zimbabwe cricket team are central in his sights. Zimbabwe has a strong sporting culture and history of good performances that has fallen away in recent years, and this is something that he feels needs addressed:

"In many respects my vision for sports is the same as education. What I said earlier was that we had the finest education in Africa in the 1980s. The same applies to sports. As a nation we have punched above our weight. Our hockey women won gold at the Moscow Olympics in 1980 and our cricketers constantly perform well. Many of our athletes perform exceptionally well.

"However we have fallen away in the last 10 years, and I would like to restore the sporting glory of our nation. My feeling is that we have certain attributes that should allow us to perform well. We’ve got this climate which allows our sportsmen and women to play throughout the year, but we tend to disappoint in the major disciplines. In our football we have particularly under-performed. We’ve never gone to the World Cup. There is no reason why we should not qualify for World Cup. My feeling is that this is tied to the collapse of the economy. The key is the resuscitation of the economy in order to get sponsors back."

Cricket gets particular mention:

"I’m a passionate supporter of Zimbabwe cricket. I try to watch every game they play. But the demise of our team in the last five years has been a cause of great distress. I look forward to playing a role in the rehabilitation of our cricket. Nothing will give me greater satisfaction. Cricket needs to be restored. We need to revive the national academy at Highlands, and indeed we need academies in football and rugby and in the other smaller disciplines."

But cricket is an area of my greatest concern. It has a high profile and generates foreign currency. Whilst I commend our young team for performing brilliantly in the recent tours of Bangladesh and Kenya, the fact remains that we have far too many talented players outside Zimbabwe that are not playing for the national team. When I look at Sean Ervine’s average at Hampshire I say to myself ‘here is a guy who should be playing for us’. We need guys like that back. We need someone like Andy Flower to come back and coach our national team. The encouraging thing about cricket is that we can reclaim our former glory very quickly."

On the side's return to Test cricket, he is confident that this can happen sooner than the two years currently envisaged by the ICC:

"Subject to us addressing concerns over accounts in ZC, and subject to us getting all our players back to choose the best team, it is not impossible to get back our Test status as soon as possible. We have to get politics and racism out of sports and start to perform."

On the ZC accounting scandal:

"I don’t know the situation there. I have read the allegations and the defences. I want to know the truth and make recommendations to cabinet. I certainly want to have sight of the issues. I don’t want to speculate and rely on rumour. I stand for transparency - unless there is transparency in our sports bodies we will continue to under-perform. Ineffectiveness affects ability to perform."

On the controversy around the upcoming New Zealand tour:

"My call to the New Zealanders is clear and unequivocal. They’ve got to give this coalition government a chance, and that applies to all levels. I would like to see the New Zealand team touring Zimbabwe. If need be I will go to New Zealand to persuade them to come, just the same way as I’ve been negotiating with teachers’ unions to get schools open. By saying that I am not turning a blind eye to the inadequacies in cricket and our country. My call must not be interpreted that way. My call is in the interest of the public, the players and cricket in Zimbabwe. My call is in terms of sportsmanship."

"My call for the New Zealanders to tour is based on the expectation that the new government will be looking into these [political] issues. We will look at the wider political issues seriously. My wish is that by the time they come in July the issues would have been dealt with."

The interview then goes on to look at rugby, hockey, golf and tennis, amongst other sport, and if you have any interest in Zimbabwean sports is essential reading. The most obvious thing to come out of the interview, though, is that there's now a man in charge of sport in the country who passionately wants the best out of the nation's teams, and will do what he can - money permitting - so help them achieve that. We could be about to enter interesting times...
Zimbabwe Independent - Sports Minister Coltart Promises Crucial Reform