Zimbabwe faces internal split

The new board of the Mashonaland Cricket Association (MCA) has confirmed that it is ready to break ranks with Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC). The announcement came less than 24 hours after an emergency meeting of the MCA kicked out several senior officials who were suspected of blocking moves to take on ZC.

"The clubs maintained their position that they believe the ZC to have been established unconstitutionally and as a result the clubs have called for a resolution that MCA do not recognise ZC," Cyprian Mandenge, the MCA's new chairman, said. "The MCA board will disassociate itself from the day to day running of the new ZC and with any competitions under the auspices of the body such as the national league and the Logan Cup."

The special meeting had been preceded by several days of uncertainty, but once the meeting started it soon became clear that the overwhelming mood was one of anger with the old board. The feeling was that it was blocking attempts to confront ZC, and so strong was the opposition from the rank and file that the board resigned without asking for a vote.

The news will be a bitter blow to ZC and Peter Chingoka, its chairman. Last week, Chingoka dismissed reports of a rebellion as little more than a smokescreen by a few individuals, but now it seems that it is far more than that.

After a wretched 2004, Zimbabwe cricket needed peace and harmony in 2005. It seems, however, that the year will start with depressingly familiar headlines.