ZIMBABWE may have fallen short of a place in the Cricket World Cup, but their near-miss highlights how much progress has been made after two decades mired with setbacks, challenges, and controversy.
Twenty years have passed since the ‘black armband’ protest that derailed cricket in the southern African nation, and the ICC banned the Zimbabwean cricket team from competing for much of 2019 due to government interference in the sport. But since that ban has been lifted, things have started to gather momentum again. With captain Sean Williams leading by example with bat and ball, and, despite ending in disappointment with a loss to Scotland, several committed performances in the qualifiers will encourage the side to reach greater heights. The future looks positive for Zimbabwean cricket, finally, so let’s take a look at its rise, fall, and resurrection.
Rise and Fall
Zimbabwe were coming into their own as an international side, albeit fledgling. Wicketkeeper Andy Flower was at one point the highest-rated batsman in the world, and in the late 90s, Zimbabwe began beating other nations in tests. This included a series win over highly favoured Pakistan. The team’s performance in the 1999 World Cup is also noteworthy — a narrow win over India, and a famous victory over South Africa, then the top nation in the world, cemented Zimbabwe’s status as an up-and-coming cricketing force.
However, 2003 was a major turning point. In protest of the politicisation of cricket, and the Mugabe government in general, Flower and teammate Henry Olonga wore black armbands, mourning ‘the death of democracy’. There was outrage within Zimbabwe, and both men were immediately ejected from the squad. Such was the government’s sanction that both men also left the country, seeking asylum in the UK. A succession of top players followed them, leaving the team floundering and unable to compete. From 2004 onwards political upheaval worsened, and funding was reduced. This was followed by the ban of 2019 for political interference, and the nadir of cricket in Zimbabwe.
Resurgence
The aforementioned ban was lifted in 2019, and glimmers of light have begun to shine through. The qualification campaign showcased the resolve of the team, and while Sean Williams might be the standout player, in the squad, ODI captain Craig Ervine has also proved himself a worthy leader and astute batsman. The defeat to Scotland will still be hurting, but there are plenty of positives to take away from qualification. And off-field, Zimbabwean cricket seems to be in a good place. With improved infrastructure and faith in managing director Givemore Makoni, the gloomy atmosphere and corrupt goings-on have been banished to the history books. And to top it off, Zimbabwe will host the 2027 World Cup.
Despite these positives, many will be looking on with cautious optimism, as a new wave of players needs to step up to the play. Williams and Ervine are both 38, and will be 41 by the time the World Cup comes to Zimbabwe — and though neither has ruled out playing, they will be well and truly in the twilight of their careers. You might still get long odds for Zimbabwe winning the trophy, but bettors can find vetted and dedicated sports betting sites if they want to gamble on the ICC World Cup.
Younger players such as bowler Luke Jongwe, batsman Ryan Burl, and all-rounder Brad Evans will be looked upon to raise themselves into game-changing players and astute tacticians. But as long as Williams and Ervine stay on, they’ll have two good examples to learn from. There are also many younger players in their early 20s earning their stripes, and it’ll be up to the coaching staff and off-field infrastructure to maintain momentum to keep Zimbabwe rolling on to greater success.
Twenty Years of Hurt
2023 marks the 20th anniversary of the black armband protest. While internally, as far as the cricketing body and government were concerned, the act was controversial, outside of Zimbabwe Flower and Olonga were lauded for their bravery in the face of an intimidating regime. While cricket is meant to be apolitical, and breaching this tradition is usually met with consternation, there was universal praise for their actions. They were welcomed with open arms by the International cricket community, and Flower took the reins as England coach, leading them to victory in the ICC World 20/20 in 2010.
What seemed the death knell for Zimbabwean cricket at the time has become a legendary act — the sacrifice of career and home for a noble cause. And while cricket in Zimbabwe suffered for twenty years, the corruption and mismanagement have been swept away — hopefully for good.
Zimbabwean cricket has emerged from some seriously dark times. Despite failure to qualify they’ve shown they can produce lovely stuff on the field, and are bouncing back to former glory.