HARARE: Zimbabwe Cricket has parted ways with their managing director Faisal Hasnain less than a year after he was appointed. Hasnain, a former financial head at the ICC, began the job on May 15 last year and resigned last Friday, citing the failure to qualify for the 2019 World Cup as the major factor. “One of the main objectives that I had set myself was for ZC to qualify for the CWC 2019, and last year I had advised my management team that I would step down if ZC did not qualify,” Hasnain said in a statement. “Following the non-qualification of ZC, I was requested by ZC to complete the two major projects that I was working on, namely to ensure that the proposed winter matches with Australia and Pakistan go ahead, and to deal with the ongoing financial issues with the ICC. Both matters have now been effectively concluded from my side.”
Under Hasnain, ZC secured hosting rights for the 2019 World Cup Qualifiers, upgraded and refurbished stadiums, won an ODI series in Sri Lanka and brought back marquee players such as Brendan Taylor, Kyle Jarvis and Solomon Mire. But they were unable to fully claw their way out of a financial crisis that has haunted the country for the last decade-and-a-half. Over a number of months, salaries for ZC staff including players have been delayed and match fees unpaid, and Hasnain announced the intention to host fewer home Tests. The situation reached its climax when all ZC coaching staff including convener of selectors Tatenda Taibu and captain Graeme Cremer were fired after the World Ccup qualifying campaign. As the situation sits currently, ZC is without leadership in most senior positions. They do not have a captain, coach, selection convener or board MD, with chairman Tavengwa Mukuhlani one of the few to retain his place. They also have limited-overs fixtures against Australia and Pakistan in July, by which time they will want to have some stability.
ZC has advertised the position of head coach and will start interviewing candidates to replace Hasnain in the coming weeks. They also saw the resumption of domestic cricket last month after it was put on hold since late last year in order to prepare for and host the World Cup Qualifiers.
Published in Daily Times, May 4th 2018.