ICC’s Speedy exit from Zimbabwe

A crisis engulfing Zimbabwe cricket deepened on Tuesday when an attempt by the International Cricket Council (ICC) to help end a stand-off b...

A crisis engulfing Zimbabwe cricket deepened on Tuesday when an attempt by the International Cricket Council (ICC) to help end a stand-off between players and selectors failed to get off the ground.

ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed, invited to Harare to address the Zimbabwe Cricket Union (ZCU) board, was heading back to London 24 hours later after it appeared to change its mind and refused to allow him into a meeting.

“After inviting him to Zimbabwe, the ZCU decided they wouldn’t meet with Malcolm Speed,” ICC spokesman Brendan McClements told Reuters on Tuesday.

Story continues below this ad

Fifteen of Zimbabwe’s leading white players refused to play for the national side last month after accusing the board of allowing politicians to dictate the make-up of the side.

The ZCU responded by sacking the players and fielding a young and inexperienced side which was subsequently thrashed by Sri Lanka in a one-day and Test series.

McClements said Speed had spoken to ZCU chairman Peter Chingoka and managing director Vince Hogg personally before departing and told them they needed to resolve the situation “as a matter of urgency”.

Speed had arrived in Harare on Monday on an open-ended visit, although the ICC stressed he was not acting as a mediator between the two sides.

Anjana Krishna, IPS officer who stood firm against Ajit Pawar, is no stranger to overcoming setbacks

Anjana Krishna, who stood against Ajit Pawar, is no stranger to overcoming setbacks

India4 hr ago

Maharashtra-cadre IPS officer Anjana Krishna V S, who was in the news for being “reprimanded” by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar while taking action over alleged illegal mining, grew up on the outskirts of an area of Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram district that has become notorious for the illegal granite mining.

View all shorts

Live Blog