Zimbabwe cricket captain speaks out on mismanagement

By Tichaona Sibanda
15 November 2005

Zimbabwe Cricket captain Tatenda Taibu has made startling revelations that players have not been paid their match fees for their Test and one-day cricket series against New Zealand and India.

In an exclusive interview with SW Radio Africa on Tuesday, Taibu said he and the rest of the players have gone for three months without having their contracts renewed.

‘This crisis forced us as players to look at our situation seriously. If nothing is done as soon as possible in cricket, the sport will die within a year. That is why I stand firm with what I said that Chingoka and Bvute should step down from their posts,’ said Taibu.

Zimbabwe’s last two test series, including one day matches were against New Zealand and India at home.

During both tests, the country lost dismally forcing Taibu to admit that their performances on the pitch were being affected by what was going on administratively.

‘If you got other stuff in your head how are you able to apply yourself in a game situation and more so when you know you haven’t signed a contract. And you don’t even know whether you will get a contract or not, whether you are going to be paid or not. We actually haven’t been paid for our games against New Zealand and India,’ he said.

Taibu was speaking from his home in Harare after he had been in hiding following death threats against his family.

‘I’m not very worried about the threats, but my wife is because of the baby. I’m at home alone and my wife is staying with her sister’

The Taibu’s were blessed with their first-born son ‘TJ’ two weeks ago. Last Thursday when he decided to take a stand against the mismanagement in cricket, the young family received threats from Themba Mliswa, a Zanu (PF) apologist, who has gone on to savagely attack Taibu in the government controlled Herald. Mliswa claimed in the interview that as captain, Taibu’s game has deteriorated.

‘Last week I told the truth about the crisis in cricket and nothing was written in the local press. Now a guy threatens a national captain and gets to say whatever he wants and that gets published, I just wonder how that works,’ said the 22 year-old captain.

On his comments directed at Chingoka and Bvute, that the two should resign, Taibu said this was done to set the record straight.

‘Usually I am a quiet guy who doesn’t usually like to get involved in a lot of things, but when these guys (Chingoka and Bvute) started to put the race issue as the major cause of problems in cricket, I just felt I had to make a stand and tell the truth. It’s simple as it can be, cricket is not being run properly,’ he said.

He said this is why all players came together and decided to make a stand adding that he had the full support of all the players in the country.