Eddie Chikamhi
ZIMBABWE Cricket are lobbying the International Cricket Council to address the imbalances in bilateral cricket.
The move is set to afford the Chevrons an opportunity to increase the number of games on the international stage.
The Chevrons, along with other cricket nations such as Ireland and Afghanistan, are perennially starved of international cricket exposure against the big guns of the game due to lack of opportunities for bilateral cricket commitments.
ZC chairman, Tavengwa Mukuhlani, said the cricket authorities are determined to plug the gaps in their calendar by engaging the ICC.
“In terms of the playing time for our guys and our ladies, it’s been one of the issues that we have always raised at the ICC that there is a great imbalance in terms of bilateral cricket,” he said.
“In its wisdom, the ICC heard our plea and have put in place a sub-committee of the ICC, which I am part of.
“It’s a three-member committee chaired by Martin Snedden from New Zealand, with Martin Darlow from England and myself.
“The main purpose is to look at how we can realign world cricket in the face of the upcoming leagues, ICC events and bilateral cricket,” said Mukuhlani.
Zimbabwe, who played their first Test in 18 months when they hosted the West Indies this year, have mostly been starved of the longer version of the game.
Zimbabwe last year toured Australia for the first time in nearly 20 years for three ODIs.
The Chevrons are set to tour England in 2025 for a four-day Test, for the first time since 2003.
“I am happy to say there is a clear understanding at ICC level that we need to seek redress of this imbalance.
“But outside that, we continue to play our traditional allies – India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Afghanistan and of course England have come on board now.”