ICC Release Funds to Cash-Strapped Zimbabwe Cricket, Confirms Funding

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has finally confirmed the release of funds to Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC). It has been done to enable the board to clear the outstanding dues of the players and the staff in particular.

Earlier, many of the top Zimbabwe cricketers have not played in the recently held tournaments. It eventually surfaced due to the pay disputes with the board. The board has been cash-strapped for a long time.

Moreover, the confirmation of the release of payment from ICC during a media came through a ZC media release on Saturday (July 28). It is part of the ICC’s controlled funding payment plan. However, the full details of the same are yet to be finalised.

“Payment plan proposals will be discussed and communicated to all outstanding creditors once this process has been concluded,” the release said.

“This brings welcome relief to the current staff and players. And is the first step in the recovery process of cricket in Zimbabwe to its former health and strength,” it added.

The African minnows played two full series without five of their primary players. They would have surely made a significant impact.

Zimbabwe failed to win a single match through the Twenty20 International tri-series and the five-match One-day International series against Pakistan.

Players like Graeme Cremer, Brendan Taylor had made themselves unable for the two series.

ZC failed to meet the deadline on time:

Zimbabwe board failed to meet the deadline on 25^th July. The players were promised that their dues would be cleared. They were not given two month’s salary which had been outstanding since 2017.

The African team would now be optimistic of the fact that they would be able to field their full strength squad for the next international assignment.

Zimbabwe will play South Africa in an ODI and a T20I series starting late in September. Zimbabwe hasn’t performed admirably in the recent past.

However, following the release of funds from the ICC to Zimbabwe, the inclusion of all their top players should keep them in good stead ahead of the series against South Africa.