Zimbabwe's cricket operations manager quits

Zimbabwe Cricket has been dealt another blow with news that Qhubekani Nkala, its cricket operations manager, has resigned with immediate effect citing what he called "lack of direction".

Nkala oversaw the running of domestic cricket and international tours, and was one of the few people with a hands-on cricketing background left inside ZC. His resignation comes just after the completion of Kenya's tour of Zimbabwe and the last-minute suspension of the Logan Cup, the country's long-standing first-class tournament.

The only thing which will save Zimbabwe cricket is if we have some introspection, some honesty and some integrity

He explained that conditions were no longer right for him to be able to execute his duties. "I've got to deliver to local and international stakeholder," Nkala said. "But as things are, I was not able to perform. It was unethical for me to stay."

Sources hinted that Nkala was growingly sidelined in ZC matters as he was perceived to be close to the Zimbabwe cricket stakeholders who are opposed to the way the game is being run.

"Definitely at the end of the day I could say I wasn't happy with the direction ZC was taking," he admitted. "The current ZC is different from the one I joined. It's a different entity. I joined ZC excited, hopeful and committed to Zimbabwe Cricket. We have been on a steady decline. That's what facts tell me. You can't run away from facts."

Nkala joined the ZC headquarters in Harare from Bulawayo where he was the general manager for the Matabeleland Cricket Association (MCA). He replaced Duncan Frost, who resigned for medical reasons.

Nkala has a solid cricketing background. He still plays for Alexandra Sports Club, one of the six top sides disaffiliated by the MCA . He attended the renowned Falcon College in Bulawayo where he played cricket with the likes of Heath Streak and Craig Wishart. He also represented his country for the Zimbabwe Schools side. Nkala is elder brother to Zimbabwe cricketer Mluleki.

And the future? "The only thing which will save Zimbabwe cricket is if we have some introspection, some honesty and some integrity."