Zimbabwe Cricket to blame for disastrous performances

By Tichaona Sibanda
18 August 2005

Critics of Zimbabwe Cricket say it is not enough to fire the coach over the country’s disastrous performances during the last year. They have called for complete changes within the leadership structure.

Coach Phil Simmons was fired on Wednesday following two consecutive defeats by the visiting New Zealand team. Zimbabwe lost the Test series 2-nil and on both occasions lost the matches by an innings.

Cricket analyst Elvis Sembezeya said more fundamental changes are needed in the organisation other than firing the coach alone.

‘He’s been made a scapegoat. The problems in ZC start from the top. If there are to be changes, it should be done from top to bottom,’ said Sembezeya.

Former fast bowler Kevin Curran has been confirmed as the next coach of the team. Simmons had been coach since September last year when he replaced Australian Geoff Marsh.

According to Sembezeya, the root cause of the problems affecting the team’s disastrous year stem from the selectors. That group he said, has killed the sport in the country.