No one stands to win in racially charged Zimbabwe row

Zimbabwe’s decision to drop 13 rebel white players gives cricket authorities the upper hand in a racially-charged row but the sport is ...

Zimbabwe’s decision to drop 13 rebel white players gives cricket authorities the upper hand in a racially-charged row but the sport is the real loser.

As legal writs flew from both sides alleging breach of contract, on the pitch the scene looks set for a record-breaking drubbing for Zimbabwe at the hands of Sri Lanka in Tuesday’s one-dayer. Dropping the rebels brought to a head a fortnight of wrangling between the board and the players that began when Heath Streak’s tenure as captain ended after he questioned the composition of the selection panel.

The Zimbabwe Cricket Union (ZCU) said Streak had resigned from all cricket — only for the former captain’s father to deny the report. Twelve other players refused to play in the home series against Sri Lanka unless he was reinstated. They also demanded the removal of Max Ebrahim from the selection panel and that the ZCU acknowledged ‘‘transgressions’’ by its board officials.

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The board claimed the players were in breach of contract, and fired all 13, who represent the bulk of Zimbabwe’s international experience. Now there is talk of up to three leading black players joining the strike.

The ZCU was forced to pick an inexperienced squad, led by 20-year-old Tatenda Taibu. He is set to become the youngest captain in history if there is no deal by the first Test in Harare on May 6.

With the rookie side picked for the first two one-day matches, the Sri Lanka tour is set to break more records, with Muttiah Muralitharan on the verge of a Test wicket bowling record.

The row stems from the ZCU’s decision two years ago to implement development plans more aggressively — including aiming to field five black players in every match.

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Instead of yielding greater integration, wrangling within the cricket establishment led to racial polarisation that has undermined the quality of the Zimbabwean game.

Several high-profile players have left the country or retired, while others have gone to ply their trade at club level abroad, eroding the depth of talent in Zimbabwean cricket.

It is no accident that all 13 rebels are white. Cricket remains a sport traditionally played and followed by a greater proportion of Zimbabwe’s white minority than the black majority. But the squad of 14 that the ZCU named to play in Tuesday’s one-dayer in Bulawayo includes only one white player. Reuters