Crumbling from the bottom up

Children playing cricket in Zimbabwe - what does the future hold for them? © Cricinfo

The news that Matabeleland's leading club sides have turned their backs on Zimbabwe Cricket leaves the board increasingly isolated, and makes this week's decision by the ICC executive to keep backing Peter Chingoka even more inexplicable.

It is now clear that the bulk of the country's players - those remaining who have not already given up or moved on - have no faith in Chingoka's regime. Much the same can be said for many stakeholders, and the recent purge of those opposed to the board has left it increasingly short of people with in-depth cricket experience.

Chingoka, although buoyed by ICC support, is increasingly looking like the captain of a ghost ship. The national side is bereft of any players of calibre, and although one or two of the youngsters show promise, one wonders how long they will continue to persevere in the current climate. Even if they stay, the side is, according to one senior administrator, not even strong enough to take on any other Full Member country's 2nd XI.

What is most worrying, however, is that the domestic structure is now rapidly crumbling. Despite all the troubles of recent years, until now it has survived intact. But the standard of play in the recent Faithwear Cup, the provincial one-day trophy, was dreadful - it wasn't until the sixth match that any side topped 120 or any batsman scored a fifty.

More alarming was that the Logan Cup, the country's long-established first-class tournament, was suspended at a few days' notice last month and without any real explanation. One bullish comment from ZC indicated it would be played later in the season, but that is now looking less and less likely by the day. The national squad is away in the Caribbean in April and May, and many of that side are heading on to England afterwards. It is dubious if there is enough left behind to stage any kind of meaningful tournament.

The national selectors, headed by Bruce Makovah, the man who many blame for triggering the dispute in Mashonaland, have to meet soon to pick a side to tour West Indies. It is an unenviable task. Not only are they without the bulk of their best talent - Under-19 captain Sean Williams is the latest to turn his back on them - but they also have no form to base their choices on. Since the dismal 2-2 series draw with Kenya, no meaningful matches have taken place. Rarely can a selection panel have sat down with so little to go on and so few to chose from.

While the ICC decided that all was well in Zimbabwe, those on the ground are giving up the unequal struggle in increasing numbers. As they say, actions speak far louder than words.