'Cricket is in anarchy and I doubt whether it is recoverable'

Peter Chingoka: his board was replaced ... but he was not © Getty Images

"The Zimbabwe Cricket Union is apolitical, and believes in the inviolable separation of sport and politics. We are an organization of diverse political, ethnic, cultural, racial and religious backgrounds."
Peter Chingoka speaking to Cricinfo in February 2004

"They have gone back on their word that they would not serve under Chingoka. They have left Taibu in the lurch. It is disturbing that they are now prepared to play under the same regime supported by new board members with dubious cricket qualifications and who we can only assume are government appointees. Cricket is in anarchy and I doubt whether it is recoverable but I still hope the ICC will take the government's interference seriously and investigate the make up of this committee."
David Ellman-Brown Former ZC chairman and life president

"To actively promote, develop and administer the game of cricket for the benefit of all Zimbabweans without discrimination of any kind."
Zimbabwe Cricket's mission statement

"They have betrayed what they went on strike for, and Taibu. He won't change his mind but we know some of them never had any principles and are only in it for the money. Most of them are not so poor."
Elvis Sembezeya Elected as chairman of Mashonaland last year but Peter Chingoka blocked his appointment

"They have abandoned Taibu and that is off sides. They have nullified the reason for going on strike in the first place. I am surprised they have not asked to see this committee before they ended their strike to get a commitment in writing pertaining to their contracts and how the game would be revived."
Heath Streak Former Zimbabwe captain

"It seems bizarre that although he [Chingoka] was head of an administration that they see fit to remove, they now make him the head of a new one. If this is the bunch that's going to help them deliver cricket for the next six months, I don't know what they are going to be delivering at the end of it. It won't be cricket, it'll be a corpse."
Clive Field spokesman for Zimbabwe's players

"No-one should regard the appointment of this committee as a solution to the issues facing Zimbabwe cricket and there remain a number of outstanding matters that must be urgently resolved in an open and transparent manner to support Zimbabwe's participation in international cricket. These include addressing allegations of financial mismanagement; ensuring disputes between players and the board are effectively addressed; and providing certainty for other ICC members that the strongest possible Zimbabwe cricket team will be able to fulfil future international commitments, especially the forthcoming tour of the West Indies due to commence in April."
ICC statement

"I suppose this ought not to have been a surprising move as this was announced at the Zanu PF National People's Conference held recently. All the same it is still quite shocking. What all cricket loving enthusiasts feared is now official I suppose, Zimbabwe cricket is now a government agency. So much for those who have advocated that sport and politics don't mix or that Zimbabwe cricket is apolitical: I believe that words to that effect came out of the mouth of Chingoka a while back."
Henry Olonga Former Zimbabwe international

"There should be no racism in sport. They should not mix sports and politics."
Robert Mugabe Zimbabwe's president speaking in 2004