This is news we have been longing to hear – Marry-Ann

Mugove Chigada

ZIMBABWE women’s cricket team captain, Mary-Ann Musonda says the lifting of the ICC suspension on Zimbabwe Cricket is significant to the country.

The development will see Zimbabwe back in ICC competitions and receiving funding for the game. The Lady Chevrons are still smarting from the wounds of being thrown-out of the qualifiers for the Twenty20 World Cup after the suspension.

“It’s the news we have been longing to hear for a couple of months now. Everything came to a complete halt internationally for us as we waited in anticipation for this good news. We are excited about what’s to come now,” Musonda told ZTN Sport on Tuesday.

Suspension was effected on July 18, 2019, and the ICC board finally readmitted Zimbabwe as a member on Monday in Dubai.

ICC Chairman Shashank Manohar said: “I would like to thank the Zimbabwe Sports Minister for her commitment to the reinstatement of Zimbabwe Cricket.

“Her desire to work in support of Zimbabwe Cricket was clear and she has unconditionally complied with the conditions set down by the ICC Board.
“Funding to Zimbabwe Cricket will continue to be on a controlled basis as part of a collective effort behind getting the game in Zimbabwe back on an even keel,” Manohar said.

Prior to the decision to lift the suspension, Zimbabwe Cricket reports that another meeting involving the ICC Chairman and Vice-Chairman as well as ICC Chief Executive Officer, Zimbabwe’s Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation, Kirsty Coventry, ZC Chairman Tavengwa Mukuhlani and Sports
and Recreation Commission Chairman Gerald Mlotshwa, had been held.

ZC will resume receiving controlled funding from the ICC and can now play in international tournaments, starting with the Under-19 world cup in January.