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CRICKET South Africa (CSA), which severed domestic agreements with Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC), will review its position on the troubled nation in October following the signing of a historic power-sharing deal last Monday.
CSA cut all bilateral ties with ZC in June after an unprecedented wave of violence in the country resulting in Zimbabwe being kicked out of South Africa’s domestic competitions. "In the light of the worsening situation in Zimbabwe, CSA has reviewed its position in relation to Zimbabwe cricket," CSA said in June. "We have decided to suspend our bilateral agreements with the Zimbabwe Cricket Union until further notice. "In the past, CSA has defended Zimbabwe cricket against heavy odds, but the general situation in Zimbabwe has now made this untenable. "We will continue to comply with the International Cricket Council’s future tours programme regarding Zimbabwe, as we are bound to this programme as a full member of the ICC." Responding to enquiries from Standardsport CSA’s commercial manager, Kass Naidoo said: "This matter will be discussed at the next CSA board meeting in October." Zimbabwe has been in political turmoil since the two elections held in March and June but the landscape seems set to change following the signing of a political settlement between political rivals last Monday. CSA was a strong supporter of Zimbabwe Cricket led by Peter Chingoka, signing bilateral deals that allowed for development and administrative programmes. The England and Wales Cricket Board followed the CSA tracks by suspending all bilateral ties with Zimbabwe Cricket a few days later. The announcement came shortly after British Prime Minister Gordon Brown called on Zimbabwe to be banned from entering the country for next year’s Twenty20 World Cup and tour matches against England. The ECB said then it shared the government’s concerns about the "deteriorating situation and lack of human rights in Zimbabwe". Sri Lanka was drafted as a last minute replacement for Zimbabwe at the Twenty20 tournament, in England next year. No comment was immediately available from the ECB on the latest political developments in the country. By Fanuel Viriri
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