Zimbabwe Cricket reinstated but team remains suspended

HARARE: The crisis-hit national cricket board of Zimbabwe has been reinstated by a government body in what could be the first step to ending a suspension by the International Cricket Council (ICC).

Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC)’s leadership under chairman Tavengwa Mukuhlani will be allowed to return to their jobs after a court settlement was reached late on Thursday with the government-appointed Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC).

The SRC suspended the entire board in June, alleging corruption and election irregularities. That led to the ICC suspending Zimbabwe from international competitions for government interference. The ICC said it will only reconsider Zimbabwe’s suspension at a meeting in October.

The ban has come at a high price for Zimbabwe’s cricketers. The men’s team lost its place at the Twenty20 World Cup qualifying competition in the United Arab Emirates in October and November, and the women’s team won’t be allowed to take part in their T20 World Cup qualifiers starting at the end of this month.