Kirsty Coventry, Zimbabwe react to ICC suspension

Hanganani Nleya

As Zimbabweans are still coming to terms with news that they have been frozen out of the International Cricket Council the country’s Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation Kirsty Coventry insists that Government has not interfered with the running of the game.

In explaining their decision to suspend Zimbabwe and withdraw funding the ICC accused the country of failing to ensure there is no Government interference in its running of the sport.

“What has happened in Zimbabwe is a serious breach of the ICC constitution and we cannot allow it to continue unchecked,” said ICC chairman Shashank Manohar.

The ICC punishment comes after the entire Zimbabwe Cricket Board was suspended by the Sports and Recreation Commission, the country’s supreme sports governing body, last month and replaced by an interim committee.

And Coventry maintains such a move cannot be classified as Government interference.

 “There has been no Government Interference ICC!!!”

Meanwhile, heartbroken all-rounder Sikandar Raza also took to twitter to express his dismay.

“How one decision has made a team, strangers.. How one decision has made so many people unemployed… How one decision affect(s) so many families… How one decision has ended so many careers… Certainly not how I wanted to say goodbye to international cricket. @ICC,” said Raza.

While Raza hinted at retirement top order batsman Solomon Mire announced his on Facebook.

 “It has been a week of emotional highs and lows in sport and sadly not a good one for Zimbabwe cricket but just wanted to officially address everyone else. I informed the players and tech staff of my decision at the end of the recent tour and wanted to formally announce my decision to retire from Zimbabwe cricket in all formats with immediate effect,” wrote Mire who has played 2 Tests, 47 ODIS and 9 T20Is for Zimbabwe.