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Graeme Cremer

Bipini Dani Sports Correspondent
ZIMBABWE cricket captain Graeme Cremer is disturbed with how fans turned their frustrations on his men after two successive defeats against India at Harare Sports Club.

On Monday one of the fans and a member of the Zimbabwe Cricket Supporters Union waved a placard with a message suggesting that the players should be arrested and charged with treason.

Cremer said the message was disturbing.

“This type of banner is disturbing but we know we have brought it ourselves, we have a long way to go as a team and we just ask our fans to stand by us while we try to fix our problems on the park,” said Cremer.

“I totally understand the supporters’ point of view, they are disappointed with us as we are with ourselves.

“We just need to put in some good performances to regain the trust and support from our fans.

“We value their support and we would not be a team without their support.” One of the fans who staged the protest said it was meant to hammer home their point.

“Yes, one banner had that but it must not be literally translated,” Tapfumaneyi Vivian Banhire, the chairman of ZCSU, said.

“The fans are very disappointed as the players keep on losing without a fight.

“The supporters feel the players do not have the country at heart and their performances are a witness to that

“Our fans have always supported them even during the days when we were being bowled out for 35 in ODIs and being bowled out twice in a day in Tests.

“We had never complained because they lacked experience and we were actually angry to those rebels who had left us then. But now, 10-13 years later, the team is still not improving.

“In 2014 when Australia and SA came here for a tri-series, we played competitive cricket against SA in one of the games and beat Australia.

“They were the full strength teams, but now we are losing without a fight and that against a new Indian side. Afghanistan is winning all the series against us.

“In the last three years we have had three board chairmen, three convener of selectors and four captains but we are getting worse.

“The players are very disappointed that their fans have turned against them. But we have always backed them. These boys have talent and the heart to win, but they don’t play with pride.

“These guys owe the opponents, the Board, the fans and their families better cricket.”