No-one is bigger than the game

Martin Williamson speaks to Ozias Bvute, the managing director of Zimbabwe Cricket

Ozias Bvute: 'Our players are professionals' © Zimbabwe Cricket

Were the players consulted during this process?
Yes. We have been in consultation with the Zimbabwe Professional Cricketers' Association since June this year. Notwithstanding that, you will appreciate that in contractual negotiations it is not unusual for one side to present a proposal, a draft contract, as the first step in the negotiation process.

Why are so many players included when most other countries have much smaller pools?
We do not have the luxury of so many world-class players at our disposal that the other countries have. We have only one, Heath Streak, and two upcoming ones, Tatenda Taibu and Andy Blignaut. The rest are talented but young and inexperienced. In the absence of this assured quality, we need the safety of quantity. Further, the rigours of touring and international commitments in between domestic play are heavier on our young lot than they are on experienced players and so we need the numbers.

Were you disappointed with the reaction of some of the players?
Not really. We went into the process aware that what we were basically doing was to set the negotiation process into motion around our contract proposal. There could be no disappointment with the reaction because we needed the players to let us know what they thought about our proposal.

Can Zimbabwe afford to lose players such as Stuart Carlisle and Craig Wishart?
No-one is bigger than the game. Stuart and Craig played in the first Croco Motors Test match against New Zealand. What happened? They did not play in the first Royal Stag Test match against India. What happened?

Is there a worry that some individuals might start playing for themselves rather than the team?
No. Our players are professionals.

We have had reports that some players seemed to have grown lazy and were operating in a comfort zone. Will these contracts address that?
That is what they are meant to do.

Are you worried by recent performances by Zimbabwe?
During the Test matches against New Zealand, yes. While we have never been world-beaters, we have always been competitive but that spirit was not there anymore. In the last two Videocon one-day international matches and now the first Test match against India we are seeing that Zimbabwe spirit again.

What signs are there that things are getting better?
You have obviously followed our performance in our last two Videocon ODI matches and in the first Test against India.

How would you react to people who suggest that Zimbabwe should be given time out from the endless grind of international cricket to allow them to rebuild?
We cannot assess ourselves unless we are competing against the best. Everyone agrees that our young cricketers are brimming with potential but lack experience. There is no other place where they can get experience from except at the coal-face.

And how do you react to calls for Zimbabwe to be stripped of Test status?
On what grounds? These calls are unfortunate and made by the uninformed. The emphasis right now is on growing the international game, not preserving its exclusivity.

Have the ICC been supportive during what has been a difficult 18 months?
The ICC has done what the ICC had to do. For example, there were allegations of racism levelled against us. The ICC set up a committee to look into these. We were duly absolved.

Do you feel Zimbabwe cricket (as opposed to Zimbabwe Cricket) receives a fair deal from the media?
Yes. And that includes Cricinfo- during those occasions such as now, when you do not have stories that you consider so hot you rush to print without allowing us the opportunity to respond. Any doubt about this is dispelled by your qualification in the question, which, even while closeted in brackets, is revealing about your propensity to vacillation.

How hard is it for Zimbabwe Cricket to remain outside politics in Zimbabwe when it appears to be creeping into every facet of daily life?
As an outsider you are excused for asking this question. To get the answer, all you have to do is to look at the situation where you are and realise that Zimbabwe is no different.

Why are attendances at major matches so low?
We had good crowds during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2003 pool matches in Harare and Bulawayo. Attendance dipped during the standoff with some players obviously because the off-field events had dampened the mood of the spectators. We had a good turnout at the beginning of the New Zealand tour but indifferent performances by the team put paid to that. As the team became more and more competitive during the Videocon ODI Triangular tournament, the crowds have started coming back. With the players heavily incentivised by the new contracts, we expect the turnstiles to be busy from here on.

Are you more optimistic about the future of the game in Zimbabwe one year from your election as MD?
It is actually an appointment. I have always been optimistic. I would not have accepted the appointment otherwise,

What would be the main thing you have achieved in that year?
I have undertaken the re-organisation of our development programme to ensure that we are adequately covered in tertiary institutions. We want to create interest in teachers so that when they are qualified they will be active participants in the development of the game. We now have a presence at 12 universities and 16 teacher training institutions around the country, and are finalising details on a structure that safeguards our future moving forward.