ZC close to clinching sponsorship deal
Zimbabwe Cricket are close to clinching a sponsorship deal which could lead to the resumption of domestic cricket in the next few weeks. ESPNcricinfo understands ZC have been in positive talks with Lay's, the potato chip company, who are interesting in backing them.
Although the deal will not cover the total cost of salaries ZC owes their players, it is expected to provide a portion of it. ZC are also hopeful of securing a loan from the ICC, which could ensure they have the funds needed for the game to restart.
Their request for a loan was subject to an audit of ZC's financials which was completed last week. ZC are now waiting to hear from the ICC about whether the money will be made available to them and on what terms. Zimbabwe captain Brendan Taylor hinted the decision could be finalised at the ICC board meeting, which starts tomorrow. He tweeted: "A massive week for us. We all hope some positives come out for ZC and all involved at the ICC meeting in Dubai on Wed. #fingerscrossed."
Initially, ZC asked US$3 million from the ICC, which would cover both the outstanding payment amount (believed to be in the region of US$700,000) and enable them to stage domestic games. The money will not see ZC move completely into the black. They remain steeped in debt to the tune of approximately US$15 million.
While cash-flow problems are not new to Zimbabwean cricket, they have recently become serious enough to disrupt the game. There has been no cricket in Zimbabwe since mid-December, when franchise players went on strike because of non-payment. As a result, there have only been two first-class matches and three fifty-over matches played since Zimbabwe's series against Pakistan last September.
Incoming tours from Sri Lanka and Afghanistan were cancelled while Zimbabwe also had to turn down an offer to play a one-off Test in South Africa because of the financial problems and subsequent refusal of players to take the field. That has left the players with little practice ahead of the World T20 in March, something they are keen to rectify as soon as possible.
An insider confirmed the national players are staying match fit by staging warm-up games against the under-19 team but hope to have other competitive cricket as they prepare for the World T20.
Firdose Moonda is ESPNcricinfo's South Africa correspondent
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@Ahmad I'm hoping for the same too. Sponsorship and the ICC loan should provide enough for a season for the national team players, plus the same for the rest of the franchise players so everything can get back on track in domestic cricket. Late, but better late than never.
Can't have our players short of match fitness, playing away and risking a mentally sapping loss ahead of the qualifiers, but I think there's still time for the Afghans to tour briefly - 3xODI 14,16&18 Feb (AFG prepare for the Asia Cup against top opposition) and 4xT20s 20-23 Feb (ZIM prepare for the T20WC qualifiers plus hopefully a few other organised practise games against 2 of HK/BD/NEP).
I hope ZC get this loan from ICC, we all Afghans are waiting to See Afghanistan Playing series Against Zimbabwe after T20 World Cup. Hopefully Afghanistan will give a tough time for Zimbabwe
Strange ZCF that so many people on here constantly disagree with your postings? also you seem to forget that cricket has been alive in that land for a lot longer than you period you quote..and has never been in a state like this..players like Procter , John Shepherd , Barry Dudleston , Robin Jackmam etc etc played for that land and were always paid their wages on time due to good administration, Administration has only recently failed, No one here posts hateful or misleading facts , even the CRICINFO correspondents for the region are quite clear in their opinion of the Administration of ZC. We do share common ground in the fact that we support Zimbabwe Cricket, however where improvements can be made they must be. Regime change is not always bad, ZC are no different and it is beyond doubt that any other company, or society performed so badly personel would be changed.
ZC or general, the point still remains. Cricket in Zimbabwe would've been stretched & long collapsed under ZCU if the scale of scholarships, numbers involved at schools, junior, club, women, franchise&national levels were as vast as they have been over the last 15 odd years; and not just a handful of benefactors as was the case in the 8 odd years before that.
I don't see your point. This deal proves ZC is still alive. Your solution to the detriment was exclusivity&to shrug off responsibility in order to maintain that. To me that's not a solution, that's a form of evil. Chingoka,Bvute&Co chose to be bigger than that, and not to emulate Ellman-Brown,Hogg&Co. Their success in keeping things afloat - with a significantly multiplied burden - over a period almost twice as long as their predecessors is not a disaster. On the contrary, it's a tremendous success in comparison. You're entitled to your skewed opinion, but the facts&the reality on the ground will disagree with you at every turn.
@ZCFOUTKAST I refer only to ZC , and not a generalisation..
@grahaam, as detrimental as the original accumulated injustices of displacement you mean?
@ZCFOUTKAST I think we all know how this works , as we have watched it unfold within ZC Over the last 12 years and how detrimental it can be to established organisations!!!
@Anti, do you understand how the indegenisation process works?
Interesting to note that none of these newly-indigenised companies are anywhere to be seen when it comes to supporting Zimbabwean cricket.
Very happy to hear this news. Hopefully things change for the better as far as ZC is concerned. Good luck and best wishes from Pakistan.
@Ahmad I'm hoping for the same too. Sponsorship and the ICC loan should provide enough for a season for the national team players, plus the same for the rest of the franchise players so everything can get back on track in domestic cricket. Late, but better late than never.
Can't have our players short of match fitness, playing away and risking a mentally sapping loss ahead of the qualifiers, but I think there's still time for the Afghans to tour briefly - 3xODI 14,16&18 Feb (AFG prepare for the Asia Cup against top opposition) and 4xT20s 20-23 Feb (ZIM prepare for the T20WC qualifiers plus hopefully a few other organised practise games against 2 of HK/BD/NEP).
I hope ZC get this loan from ICC, we all Afghans are waiting to See Afghanistan Playing series Against Zimbabwe after T20 World Cup. Hopefully Afghanistan will give a tough time for Zimbabwe
Strange ZCF that so many people on here constantly disagree with your postings? also you seem to forget that cricket has been alive in that land for a lot longer than you period you quote..and has never been in a state like this..players like Procter , John Shepherd , Barry Dudleston , Robin Jackmam etc etc played for that land and were always paid their wages on time due to good administration, Administration has only recently failed, No one here posts hateful or misleading facts , even the CRICINFO correspondents for the region are quite clear in their opinion of the Administration of ZC. We do share common ground in the fact that we support Zimbabwe Cricket, however where improvements can be made they must be. Regime change is not always bad, ZC are no different and it is beyond doubt that any other company, or society performed so badly personel would be changed.
ZC or general, the point still remains. Cricket in Zimbabwe would've been stretched & long collapsed under ZCU if the scale of scholarships, numbers involved at schools, junior, club, women, franchise&national levels were as vast as they have been over the last 15 odd years; and not just a handful of benefactors as was the case in the 8 odd years before that.
I don't see your point. This deal proves ZC is still alive. Your solution to the detriment was exclusivity&to shrug off responsibility in order to maintain that. To me that's not a solution, that's a form of evil. Chingoka,Bvute&Co chose to be bigger than that, and not to emulate Ellman-Brown,Hogg&Co. Their success in keeping things afloat - with a significantly multiplied burden - over a period almost twice as long as their predecessors is not a disaster. On the contrary, it's a tremendous success in comparison. You're entitled to your skewed opinion, but the facts&the reality on the ground will disagree with you at every turn.
@ZCFOUTKAST I refer only to ZC , and not a generalisation..
@grahaam, as detrimental as the original accumulated injustices of displacement you mean?
@ZCFOUTKAST I think we all know how this works , as we have watched it unfold within ZC Over the last 12 years and how detrimental it can be to established organisations!!!
@Anti, do you understand how the indegenisation process works?
Interesting to note that none of these newly-indigenised companies are anywhere to be seen when it comes to supporting Zimbabwean cricket.
Very happy to hear this news. Hopefully things change for the better as far as ZC is concerned. Good luck and best wishes from Pakistan.
zimbabwe cricket needs to stnad up against big three proposal , if they passes they lose it big times from playing test matches . they need to stand up against bcci ecb and ACB
Let's hope this is the beginning of the end of tougher times for Zimbabwean cricket. With the spirit that they have displayed, Zimbabwean players and fans surely deserve better.
Good to see this happen for ZC. But they should be aware to properly manage the money which flows in.
Well done to Chairman Peter Chingoka, Managing Director Wilfred Mukondiwa, and the rest of the board and Executive at Zimbabwe Cricket.
They truly have the interests of the game at heart. Despite unqualified accusations & assumptions of mismanagement&misappropriation of funds by the army of tireless bordering on hateful detractors, they feared nothing about the audits requested. I only hope those who requested them paid for the needless exercise.
But great thanks must go to Lays for their belief in Zimbabweans&ZC for what they set out to do years ago, and the current players who are products of those villified efforts and policies.
Hopefully the ICC, as they have often thankfully done, will soon follow suit and give ZC another injection.
Over to you Hami, Elton, Vitori&others. Its now your turn to deliver in the middle of the pitch!
ZC deserves good support. They make Cricket game more enjoyable as WI are known to.
Someone needs to advise ZC to return to profit in addition to baling them out. I feel sad for my brothers from Zimbabwe...The cricket team was a shining example of white-black unity which is much needed!
"grahaam". Yes, what you suggest can be achieved, by the money being advanced on what are known by lawyers as 'Quistclose' terms: i.e. the funds are advanced on trust for a particular purpose; if the purpose is not achieved, the funds revert to the trustee.
good luck to ZC they deserve more fm ICC they played excellent cric ag a world class team recently
It is important that any funds , either from ICC or potential sponsors reach the players, and not major external creditors , I trust all parties funding this , hopefully successful rescue plan, ensure this is the case by some conditioning, prior to funding.
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It is important that any funds , either from ICC or potential sponsors reach the players, and not major external creditors , I trust all parties funding this , hopefully successful rescue plan, ensure this is the case by some conditioning, prior to funding.
good luck to ZC they deserve more fm ICC they played excellent cric ag a world class team recently
"grahaam". Yes, what you suggest can be achieved, by the money being advanced on what are known by lawyers as 'Quistclose' terms: i.e. the funds are advanced on trust for a particular purpose; if the purpose is not achieved, the funds revert to the trustee.
Someone needs to advise ZC to return to profit in addition to baling them out. I feel sad for my brothers from Zimbabwe...The cricket team was a shining example of white-black unity which is much needed!
ZC deserves good support. They make Cricket game more enjoyable as WI are known to.
Well done to Chairman Peter Chingoka, Managing Director Wilfred Mukondiwa, and the rest of the board and Executive at Zimbabwe Cricket.
They truly have the interests of the game at heart. Despite unqualified accusations & assumptions of mismanagement&misappropriation of funds by the army of tireless bordering on hateful detractors, they feared nothing about the audits requested. I only hope those who requested them paid for the needless exercise.
But great thanks must go to Lays for their belief in Zimbabweans&ZC for what they set out to do years ago, and the current players who are products of those villified efforts and policies.
Hopefully the ICC, as they have often thankfully done, will soon follow suit and give ZC another injection.
Over to you Hami, Elton, Vitori&others. Its now your turn to deliver in the middle of the pitch!
Good to see this happen for ZC. But they should be aware to properly manage the money which flows in.
Let's hope this is the beginning of the end of tougher times for Zimbabwean cricket. With the spirit that they have displayed, Zimbabwean players and fans surely deserve better.
zimbabwe cricket needs to stnad up against big three proposal , if they passes they lose it big times from playing test matches . they need to stand up against bcci ecb and ACB
Very happy to hear this news. Hopefully things change for the better as far as ZC is concerned. Good luck and best wishes from Pakistan.