Government takes over Zimbabwe Cricket

Peter Chingoka: his board was replaced ... but he was not © Getty Images

Today, the drama finally unfolded. It's now confirmed. The Zimbabwe government has finally taken over Zimbabwe Cricket in a shattering move that will almost certainly usher the ultimate demise of the game in the country.

In an address to the media in Harare this afternoon, Gibson Mashingaidze, an army brigadier and chairman of the government's Sports and Recreation Commission, announced the reinstatement of Peter Chingoka as chairman of an interim board to run ZC. The new board consists of government officials and four retainees - Cyprian Mandenge, Tavengwa Mukuhlani, Ntokozo Ncube and Wilson Manase.

The white and Asian directors were left out for "their racial connotations and saving their own agendas and not government policy." The brigadier, addressing the meeting on behalf of the sports minister, said the government was prepared for any repercussions, even the country losing Test status. "We are prepared to be chucked out of the Test status. The government is saying we are starting afresh. We are not bothered.

"Those who want to stay in can stay, but those who want to go are free to go. They can go to India, Canada or wherever. We are not bothered. The government will not be held at ransome by individuals."

The ICC have confirmed that they have received notification from the Sports and Recreation Commission that an interim committee has been set up for the next six months. However, they were unable to offer any further comment until they had gained more information.

On a bleak day for Zimbabwe cricket, the government's decision might as well have closed the door on the players, who this week were considering leaving Zimbabwe to start new lives abroad.

Commenting on the players' grievances and demands for Chingoka and ZC managing director Ozias Bvute to resign, Mashingaidze said the players' action was "Indiscipline of the highest magnitude". He added: "They have no reason to do that. It's not their role."

The decision today has been made with the blessings of President Mugabe, it was confirmed by Mashingaidze. "The head of the state is aware of this."

Chingoka and Bvute were seen with government officials this week, and it is believed that today's announcement was just a delayed episode of a well-orchestrated and planned move.

It also seems that Bvute might have survived. As an employee of ZC, his tenure would be down to the board, and as a close friend of Chingoka - and someone who stands accused of many of the same allegations - he may well retain his position, unless his behaviour has been too much even for the government and the trade-off is that he goes.

The position of Ahmed Ebrahim, the vice-chairman who led the move to oust Chingoka, is less certain, although it seems he might well have been removed. That would be a bold move as Ebrahim has many friends within the ICC.