The International Cricket Council has suspended the Zimbabwe cricket due to political interference in the country. The apex of cricket will not fund or finance any cricketing activities or functions in the country.
ICC chairman Shashank Manohar said, “We do not take the decision to suspend a Member lightly, but we must keep our sport free from political has happened interference. What in Zimbabwe is a serious breach of the ICC Constitution and we cannot allow it to continue unchecked. The ICC wants cricket to continue in Zimbabwe in accordance with the ICC Constitution.”
The ICC board decided that Zimbabwe had failed to fulfill their obligation to provide a process for free and democratic elections and to ensure that there is no government interference in its administration for cricket.
ICC funding will be suspended, and Zimbabwe will be barred from participating at ICC events, putting Zimbabwe’s participation in October’s Men’s T20 World Cup Qualifier in question.
ICC has also changed the rule for suspending the captain for slow over-rate. Now all the team members will be equally responsible for the quiet over-rate. The rules will be followed from August 1, the day on which the Ashes will start.
- Captains will no longer be suspended for repeated or severe over-rate breaches.
- All players should be held equally responsible for slow over rates, and as such will be fined at the same level as the captain.
- In World Test Championship matches a team that is behind the required over the rate at the end of a match will have two competition points deducted for each over it is behind.