At the outset I
must express regret at the tone of the Zimbabwe Cricket statement which is akin
to something I would expect from a political party, not a national sports body.
It is a shockingly mendacious document which distorts the truth and which, in the
words of Advocate Fadzayi Mahere, reduces an “important national discourse to
an hominem racist attack”. I do not intend to defend myself against the racist
attack; my record in Zimbabwe since I returned in 1983 speaks for itself and I
am deeply heartened by the overwhelming support given by Zimbabweans across the
racial and ethnic divide since the statement was issued. It is clear to me that
Zimbabwe Cricket have used a cheap shot, namely racist allegations, to try and
deflect national debate regarding the deep rooted rot and malaise in cricket
administration at present–and that the general public has seen through it.
With regard to
the allegation that I have been involved in “divisive interference of cricket”
a few facts need to be stated:
1. I did not
play a “key role in planning” Henry Olonga and Andy Flower’s 2003 black-armband
protest. The facts are that they planned the protest and only sought advice
from me regarding their statement issued at the time. Both Henry Olonga’s book
and numerous statements made since then by both men confirm this. If anything
my advice was that they protest in a way that would not disrupt the World Cup.
It is in fact demeaning to these two cricket legends that it even be suggested
that they didn’t have minds of their own and that I played a key role in
planning their protest. As for their protest being “infamous” the fact is that
their brave, selfless (both of them willingly forfeited their remaining
international cricket playing careers), non partisan and peaceful protest was
widely lauded throughout the cricketing world. Andy Flower has gone on to be
one of the most sought after coaches in the world and has taken England cricket
and, this year, the Royal Challengers Bangalore to unprecedented heights. Henry
Olonga remains one of the most deeply respected cricketing icons in the world.
2. The Zimbabwe
Cricket statement alleges that “thanks to pressure from Coltart England refused
to travel to Harare for their World Cup match, triggering a long-lasting
diplomatic and sporting rift”. This is a total distortion of the truth. During
the World Cup I met with the England team in Cape Town and tried to persuade
them to play against Zimbabwe in Zimbabwe but failed. The reference in the ZC
statement to the article which was published by the Daily Telegraph on 31st
December 2002 alleging “that I argued against the ICC’s principle of separating
sport and politics” is also a distortion of what I wrote. The article says in
part “it is entirely correct that sport be kept out of politics”. The irony is
that the fears I expressed in the article (that certain Nations would not play
in Zimbabwe) were realized when England ultimately refused to play in Zimbabwe,
something predicted in the article written months before the World Cup
happened. This is all recorded at pages 366 and 367 of my book published in 2016
and has never been refuted.
The ZC
statement is deceptive in its description of the English freeze on cricket
relations with Zimbabwe. The ECB froze relations under pressure from its own
Government caused by serious human rights abuses perpetrated in Zimbabwe over
many years. The ZC statement is silent on the major role I played as Minister
of Sport to restore Zimbabwe’s test status. The record shows that I travelled
extensively to New Zealand, Australia, England, Scotland and Ireland in 2011 to
do all I could to restore cricket relations and Zimbabwe’s test status. I
succeeded with Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand but failed in England and
Scotland, once again due to pressure from the British government. All the
details of these efforts are clearly laid out at pages 512 to 514 of my book.
None of what is written there has ever been refuted because it is all true and
supported by independently verifiable sources.
3. The
statement about the role I played recently in the UK at the time of the Trent
Bridge test match is entirely false and misleading. My interviews with Michael
Atherton and other cricketing journalists were made in the context of Bulawayo
being awarded the right to host the 2027 Street Children Cricket World
Cup. I was then - and remain - entirely supportive of
Zimbabwe’s resumption of cricket relations with England, something I have
consistently argued for.
Turning to the
invitation to provide concrete, factual evidence to support my recent social
media criticism of Zimbabwe Cricket I make the following points. Indeed the ZC
statement provides a useful opportunity for me to collate and expand upon
criticism I have made through social media for the last few years.
1. I am deeply
concerned by the state of cricket at grassroots level particularly Government
schools. From my perspective in Bulawayo, it is clear to me that facilities at
schools like Milton and Plumtree (schools which have produced cricketing greats
such as Henry Olonga and Pom Mbangwa) are at an all time low. I don’t know how
our young cricketers at these schools manage to continue playing cricket given
the state of their fields and nets. I suspect that save for a couple of schools
in Harare the same applies countrywide. The collapse of cricket in these
schools is reflected in the fact that very few players are coming through the
system. I see little evidence of Zimbabwe Cricket pouring resources into
Government schools countrywide. Without
this financial commitment the pool from which we draw future stars will
continue to dry up with catastrophic consequences for the future. The recent
poor performance of the Under 19 team against Bangladesh and South Africa may
be a reflection of this failure.
2. It appears
that there is a conscious decision by Zimbabwe Cricket to promote cricket in
Harare but little elsewhere. This is reflected in nearly all T20 and ODI
matches being played in Harare, selectors solely coming from Harare,
substantial investment in academies in Harare but little elsewhere. It is hard
for young people in particular to be able to attend 5 day Tests and that is why
it is important to give youngsters the opportunity right across the country to
watch T20 and ODI matches. It is also increasingly reflected in the composition
of National teams with almost all the players selected coming from Harare. All
but one player in the current senior men’s team come from Harare. All but two
players in the current men’s Under 19 team come from Harare and its environs.
Is it really the case that the rest of the country isn’t producing players of
international quality? Cricket is a national game and we can only compete well
internationally if we promote the game fairly right across Zimbabwe. I need to
stress that this goes beyond just Bulawayo. Other major cricketing centers like
Kwekwe, Mutare, Gweru and Masvingo need to be supported. Whilst only Bulawayo
and Harare have Test venues there is no reason why T20 games in particular
cannot be played elsewhere. Likewise there needs to be an equitable
distribution of funds to smaller centers to promote the game across the
country.
3. The only
other major investment outside of Harare by ZC is the construction of a cricket
stadium costing millions of dollars in Victoria Falls which in my view at this
juncture is a misplaced budgetary priority. Victoria Falls is a small tourist
town with a tiny cricket supporting population. The development of this
boutique stadium is unprecedented world wide. In every other Test playing
nation the primary investment by their Boards has been to invest in existing
stadia in large population centers right across their countries. It must be
clear that this stadium is not primarily part of an objective to take the game
to smaller centers to promote the game. It appears to be mainly to have a
stadium in a tourist center to attract foreign teams who will come for reasons
beyond the sole purpose of playing cricket. Whilst this may be admirable if the
financial health of ZC was good it is a terrible misplaced budgetary priority
given the fact that cricket venues in cities across the country outside of
Harare are collapsing and there is, as stated above, a near total collapse of
cricketing facilities at most Government schools countrywide. Unless we focus
on the development of grassroots cricket and the game right across the country
our ability to play the game well at international level will continue to erode
and ultimately the Victoria Falls stadium will become a white elephant.
4. The issue
which appears to have excited the most hostility from ZC - selection - is one
which I have been concerned about from the time when I was Minister of Sport.
At the time I issued a directive that national selection panels for all
sporting disciplines should be comprised of former international players from
across the country. When I issued the directive it was only Cricket Zimbabwe
who expressed concern and all sorts of aspersions were directed my way by
Cricket Zimbabwe then. In other words no other sporting discipline had any
problem with the directive. My view is that ZC selection procedures and
policies have become even more problematic since the directive was issued back
in 2012. At present the selectors only come from Harare. This is in marked
contrast to, for example, BCCI’s policies who have selectors from across India,
most of whom are iconic former players. The BCCI policy ensures that talent
right across India is identified. The ZC statement alleges that I am only
concerned about white players but that is another brazen untruth. Whilst I have
alleged that there is an unwritten quota, that quota relates to race,
ethnicity, region and club. Inexplicably black and white players who have, for
example, performed the best in some of national tournaments such as our T20
tournament, have been excluded from our national teams. There is a
disproportionate number of players who come from Harare itself and one club in
particular, namely Takashinga. The result has been that on a purely objective
statistical basis we have not been selecting our best players across all
formats. Related to this is an apparent reluctance to select Zimbabwean players
who are currently playing overseas.
5. In the last
few years I have received numerous reports of a toxic atmosphere in many teams,
particularly the national team. Players have reported being treated poorly in a
variety of respects. Some players have been openly intimidated by management and
certain coaches. I am deliberately not going to go into detail so as to protect
players, but these complaints have been made on numerous occasions over years
by numerous players right across the racial divide. I need to stress that this
conduct is not limited to the senior national team but includes shocking
conduct directed towards some black Under-19 players. Whilst I cannot of course
verify all these reports they are so
numerous as to be credible and
their repetition and content give them a distinct ring of truth. On the field of play it is obvious to anyone
with eyes that our teams are dejected and play with little fight. That is
emblematic of an unhappy team which goes beyond their poor performance on the
field. It is a symptom of a much deeper malaise.
6. The
composition of the Zimbabwe Cricket Board is also a matter of deep concern.
There is not a single member of the Board who has played First Class Cricket.
This is in marked contrast to nearly every other Test playing nations’ Boards.
The recent outgoing Chair of BCCI Roger Binny was a key member of India’s 1983
World Cup winning team. Md Aminul Islam, the President of Bangladesh Cricket
Board, was a former Bangladesh Captain and the country’s first Test centurion.
As far as I can see every other Test nation Board has at least one prominent
former player on its Board. In other words in other Boards there are key people
who have a deep understanding of the game. Election procedures for the ZC Board
are opaque and it is difficult for people outside of the current leadership to
get elected. The result is that it appears that ZC is in fact run by a small
unrepresentative clique with little understanding of or passion for cricket,
who self perpetuate their tenure. There has been very little turn over in actual
management of ZC for at least a decade. My view is that the Board is at the
root of the current malaise. Zimbabwe Cricket desperately needs a more
representative Board which includes leading former national players who
demonstrate a passion for the game and administrative prowess.
If these
comments were made in the context of improving performance on the field of play
they could be easily dismissed. However it is clear to all objective observers
that Zimbabwe Cricket is in a dire and declining state. Virtually all our teams
have suffered humiliating defeats in all formats in the last few years and we
now even battle to qualify for World Cups. The recent poor performance by our
Under 19 team against South Africa and Bangladesh is perhaps the most worrying
sign of a deep rooted malaise in our national game. I want to make clear that I
stand fully behind the players. The blame must lie with ZC.
Ironically the
politically charged statement issued against me, which seeks to deflect
criticism, is in itself the surest sign that there is something badly wrong in
Zimbabwe Cricket. The views expressed here are not my own - they are widely
shared by thousands of cricket supporters of all races right across Zimbabwe.
If these concerns are not addressed, cricket in Zimbabwe will continue to
decline. If, instead of attacking those who raise concerns, ZC addresses these
concerns, then I believe cricket will flourish in Zimbabwe and our players and
supporters will be the biggest beneficiaries.
Senator David
Coltart
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