SRC or Zimbabwe Cricket, Who`s Really Lying?

By Perkins-Tino Bare
When Paul Chingoka turned down the ICC` bailout package many people I for instance castigated him for that decision and it further emerged that the decision would result in the ICC having a firmer hold on our game. Well now we have a similar situation where the Zimbabwe Cricket took up a life-threatening tour as they find themselves in debt and therefore any penny would come in handy.
With tickets for the first T20 already sold out, Zimbabwe Cricket is already in trouble over the Pakistan tour as it has emerged that the tour was not sanctioned by the Sports and Recreation Commission. The Chevrons defied governmental orders against touring Pakistan amid high concerns of security after they went on the their scheduled Pakistan as the Chevrons departed for Pakistan on Sunday.
Zimbabwe Cricket`s tour of Pakistan was not sanctioned by the Sports and Recreation Committee amid high security concerns. The concerns which were already there ever since the announcement of the tour were further augmented by a rather barbaric attack  on the city of Karachi whereby gunmen stormed the city shooting people randomly and left 45 dead. What is rather ironic is that this attack was carried out in the same city that the PCB wanted some of the matches to be played before Zimbabwe settled on all matches to be played out of Lahore yet the PCB claim to have the security of our team as first priority (note I said first).
The statement which was released by the SRC by Colonel Nhemachena read "We have learnt with great concern that the Zimbabwe Cricket's tour to Pakistan went ahead in spite of the SRC's decision not to clear the tour for security reasons," Sports Commission director general, Charles Nhemachena said.
"Without condoning the action taken by the Zimbabwe Cricket, we pray and hope that our security concerns will not manifest themselves and that our team will be safe from any harm of any nature” The statement then concluded as he went on to add We also wish them success in the five match series."Going forward the SRC will engage the Zimbabwe Cricket for them to account for their decision to proceed with the tour."We wish to reiterate that the safety of the team was the overriding consideration in making our decision."No measure of benefits can supersede the sanctity of human life," said the Sports Commission.
The last statement barely summed up what most people have been arguing that it was simply not worth the risk and yes our boys may return safe (which I pray they do) but the risk that they took was simply not worth it and whilst they are in Pakistan enjoying the fruits of it they should know clearly they did not have to put their lives on the line for a couple of dollars.
This also goes on to show the rather sluttish attitude that Zimbabwe Cricket has developed after they find themselves 19 million dollars in debt. Wilson Manase assured no he lied to the whole nation that this tour was not based on financial gain yet the head of the delegation is the infamous Ozias Bvute the former Zimabwe Cricket managing director who would be an equivalent of Jonathan Mashingaidze in terms of Cricket. The name Ozias Bvute says it all to a cricket fan and this time Wilson Manase lied through his teeth to the whole nation.
The infamous Ozias Bvute has however claimed that the main reason they toured Pakistan was because they understand the pain of isolation in a press conference held for the team. He went on to state further that Zimbabwe Cricket had been granted exclusive rights to make a decision by the SRC on whether to tour Pakistan or not yet just last week they are the very same people who had apparently suspended the tour “ considering the advice from the country’s supreme sports regulatory authority, the Sports and Recreation Committee”.
Bvute who was speaking in an interview upon arrival in Pakistan said “The system of sports in Zimbabwe is that the Sports and Recreation Commission governs us. SRC wrote a letter to ZC and indicated that the final decision as to whether the Zimbabwe team tours Pakistan solely rests on ZC. Our chairman Wilson Manase took the decision and we agreed to tour Pakistan. The board and players were supportive of his decision and ultimately we are here and this is the testimony of the fact that cricket is the ultimate winner.”
Zimbabwe Cricket has however embarked on a #crickethewinner campaign on social media  to squash down all talk about the tour being based on financial gain. This tour is going to be of Cricket value to the PCB as a brand and to ZC, well sheer financial gain. As to who is lying amost the two only time will tell and these two contradictory statements coming from the two camps are of no value at the moment as the boys are in training and will be playing their first match on Friday. One thing that is almost certain is that Pakistan has been holding their end of the bargain as they promised after Zimbabwe
The series consists of two T20s and 3 ODI`s which should be interesting to the cricket eye as cricket `becomes the winner`.
In team news Pakistan named a strong 15 man squad for the 2 T20`s which is going to be captained Shahid Afridi whilst they also called up Shoaib Malik and fast bowler Mohammad Sami. Zimbabwe`s captain Elton Chigumbura has however promised his charges to put on a good show. The skipper said in a press conference that they expect it to be a good series just like any other.
Zimbabwe Squad :  Elton Chigumbura (capt), Sikandar Raza, Charles Coventry, Chamu Chibhabha, Craig Ervine, Roy Kaia, Hamilton Masakadza, Chris Mpofu, Tawanda Mupariwa, Richmond Mutumbami, Tinashe Panyangara, Vusi Sibanda, Prosper Utseya, Brian Vitori, Sean Williams

#stayblessed