Coltart–ZC row erupts over racism, selection and the state of Zimbabwe cricket

📅 Published: August 16, 2025

Curated by AllZimNews.com

The board also defended its transformation drive since independence, citing increased racial representation, compliance with ICC anti-discrimination rules, and successful hosting of high-profile tours.

It accused Coltart of politicising cricket during his ministerial tenure and linked him to the 2003 black armband protest by Andy Flower and Henry Olonga, as well as England’s refusal to play a World Cup match in Harare — a freeze in cricket ties that lasted until this year.

Two days later, Coltart fired back with a 10-page rebuttal, dismissing ZC’s statement as “shockingly mendacious” and more akin to political propaganda than a sports body’s communication.

He denied orchestrating the 2003 protest or pressuring England to boycott Zimbabwe, insisting he had urged them to play.

Coltart accused ZC of: – Allowing grassroots cricket in government schools to collapse. – Concentrating investment and matches in Harare, with selectors and most national players from the capital. – Prioritising a new stadium in Victoria Falls over upgrading existing facilities. – Running a biased selection system influenced by region, race, and club affiliation. – Fostering a toxic team environment and maintaining a board without any former first-class cricketers.

He said these failures were to blame for the decline in national team performance, warning that “unless these concerns are addressed, cricket in Zimbabwe will continue to decline. ” The standoff has polarised opinion among cricket supporters, with some backing ZC’s transformation stance and others echoing Coltart’s governance concerns.

As the dispute rages, Zimbabwe’s next international fixtures — and the fragile unity of its cricket community — could be overshadowed by one of the sport’s most public and personal feuds in years. on Twitter –>. 🔗

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