The Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC), the regulatory body for sports in Zimbabwe, has suspended Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) with immediate effect following alleged complaints about the nomination process and the violation of ZC's constitution, as well as ‘various other controversies.’
According to a press release issued on Friday, the government body has suspended the cricket board and its acting managing director Givemore Makoni until further notice. The move comes a week after it had issued an order suspending ZC’s annual general committee where it was to elect the future office bearers because of the above-mentioned complaints. However, the cricket board went ahead with its elections and Makoni was re-elected to the position.
BREAKING: Sports and Recreation Commission suspends Zimbabwe Cricket Board pic.twitter.com/cHbeHZRWV2
— Trevor Ncube (@TrevorNcube) June 21, 2019
Meanwhile, an interim committee has been announced and will have David Ellman-Brown, Ahmed Ibrahim, Charlie Robertson, Cyprian Mandenge, Robertson Chinyengetere, Sekesai Nhokwara and Duncan Frost, taking care of the reins until a solution is reached to the crisis.
"It cannot be in national interest that a national sporting association continues to conduct itself in a manner that it suggests that it and its officials are a law unto themselves.
"Certain of its office bearers, past and present, have been the subject matter of allegations involving fraud exchange control violations and other acts of corruption and criminality related to the monies and assets of Zimbabwe Cricket and the International Cricket Council," the SRC release said.
"It is a matter of documented public knowledge that Zimbabwe Cricket has been the subject matter of several controversies over the years. There have been allegations of outright disregard for its own constitution, neglect of the development of the game and related infrastructure throughout the country."
Feature image courtesy: Twitter/ @ZimCricketv