Mehluli Sibanda in Harare
DISGRUNTLED cricket fans vented their frustrations at the national cricket team’s pathetic display against India in the second One Day International by waving placards in anger at Harare Sports Club yesterday. Fans at the Castle Corner were particularly unhappy with the way the team batted, slumping from 106 for four in 25.2 overs to be dismissed for 126 runs in 34.3 overs.
Some of the placards read: “I only win in fantasy cricket”; “Zim cricket players should be arrested and face treason” and “We are disappointed”. Some even called for Warriors’ benefactor Wicknell Chiyavo to extend his benevolence to the gentlemen’s game.
Some of the fans expressed dismay at the sacking of Australian coach Davenell Whatmore at the end of last month and replaced on an interim basis by South African Makhaya Ntini. They believe the players, and not the coaches, are the problem.
When the match ended, the disgruntled fans left a placard written “What a shame’’. One of the senior players in the Zimbabwean team Vusumuzi Sibanda, who scored 53 runs off 69 runs, said they understand the fans’ frustrations when the team is not playing well, but added that it was unfair for them to get personal.
Zimbabwe Cricket said they did not expect the fans to be delighted when the team does not play well, but asked all stakeholders to back them through these challenging times.
“Naturally we don’t expect our supporters to be happy when our performances haven’t really measured up to the standard expected of the national team at the highest level of the game. The players too are disappointed, but I can assure you they’re determined to bounce back and get good results again.
“We can only ask the fans and all the other stakeholders to support us through thick and thin and together we’ll make it,’’ said ZC public relations and media manager Darlington Majonga.