Grant Flower welcomes ICC intervention

Former Zimbabwe batsman Grant Flower has welcomed the ICC's decision to discuss Zimbabwe's international future at next week's annual conference.

Flower, who quit Zimbabwe in 2005 and now plays for Essex, told the Southend Echo that their international cricket was not good enough and that the situation at domestic level was even worse.

"I speak to players back there who pitch up to games and there are no umpires, they are struggling to find six stumps, some of the wicketkeepers don't have gloves, there are no lunches or teas provided and there is no diesel to fuel the tractors to mow the outfields. And that situation is supposed to be setting up players to play against the best in the world?

"It'll be very interesting to see what happens at the ICC. Peter Chigoka [Zimbabwe Cricket's chairman] is still there, and has been for a long time, and he is held in quite high regard in a lot of countries. But if he stays in place, I don't think there will be any change.

"A change in structure in Zimbabwe cricket will only happen with a change in government, so it's probably a long time coming."

Flower admitted that the situation was upsetting for the many players who have turned their backs on Zimbabwe cricket in recent years. "We'd all like to be there playing for Zimbabwe and if we were, we'd have a very good side, but that's the way life goes.

"I can only pray something positive will happen in the future. I can only see light at the end of the tunnel cricket-wise if there is a change in government because they are very closely linked."

His comments come the day after his brother Andy spoke out in support of his country's suspension.