Zimbabwe invests in new domestic structure

More details of Zimbabwe's domestic restructuring have emerged, and if implemented as planned it will result in a substantial increase in the volume of cricket played as well as offering professional contracts to more of the country's players.

Speaking to Cricinfo earlier this week, Ozias Bvute, the board's chief executive, explained that the five new franchises would be regionally based and all inclusive.

In recent years, there has been considerable criticism of the internal structure, with disgruntled stakeholders claiming provincial boards had been purged of dissenters. Bvute insisted that they would be open to anyone to get involved in, although critics have already pointed out that the board has indicated it will appoint the five CEOs.

Another area of concern has been the centralisation of the game on Harare. Even though there have been various different provincial sides in recent years, many of these have been filled with Harare-based cricketers bussed out to the regions to make up numbers.

Bvute explained that each franchise would contract its own players and there would be residency requirements. "We're looking to take the game back to the community, so we give them ownership, and so responsibility, to prove their ability." Any person who did not want to commit to a professional contract could be offered a pay-as-you play deal.

In a bold initiative, Bvute also revealed that ZC was looking to attract overseas players to come to Zimbabwe to improve the quality of the teams.

He said each franchise would be equally funded and would be responsible for all aspects of the game in their area. "They will be fully independent," Bvute insisted. "Zimbabwe Cricket will run the national game, they will run the domestic one." The only things under the direct control of ZC would be scheduling and identifying venues.

The other major change will be the length of the season. In recent years all major domestic competitions have been shoehorned into a short two or three-month period between February and May. The new schedule sees the Logan Cup expanded from six matches a side to 16, starting in August and ending the following February. Each four-day match will be followed by a one-day game. The Twenty20 tournament would follow at the end of February.

Bvute was confident that there was sufficient funding available to underpin the professional structure and the expanded season.

Asked if there were enough facilities outside Harare, he was bullish. "Grounds have fallen by the wayside, but they were never run by ZC. They were privately-run sports clubs that fell victim to the economic situation. The venues we run are in good shape."