Zimbabwe Cricket interim board accused of destroying game

By Tichaona Sibanda
07 June 2006

Respected former Zimbabwe Cricket chief executive Dave Ellman-Brown has warned that if Peter Chingoka stays on for two more months, cricket in the country will be damaged beyond any hope of repair.

Ellman-Brown, who is also a former president of the Zimbabwe Cricket Union, said this in an interview with Cricinfo, a leading British based magazine that specialises in cricket reporting.

He said the game in the country has continued to sink since the interim board was given the reins in January.

‘I am extremely disappointed with what has happened since the Sports and Recreation Commission decided to appoint an interim committee which had question marks,’ he said.

Cricket analyst Elvis Sembezeya said it is high time everyone interested in cricket in the country stood up and listened to concerns being raised by veteran administrators.

‘If a gentleman like Dave Ellman-Brown raises concerns about the way the sport is being administered then you realise the sport is in serious trouble and people should take note,’ Sembezeya said.

Ellman-Brown was highly critical of Chingoka whom he blames for successfully destroying the game in the country.

‘You can’t say its racism. You can’t say its elitism. You can’t say all those people who have left, both black and white, do not have genuine grievances. The elimination process by ZC had reached a point of no return. ZC is just manipulating so that they will have people around them who won’t criticize them. Anyone with different views to Chingoka and Bvute will go. I do not think the ICC has been strong enough. They have to step in and put corrective measures.’