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WE ARE IN THIS TOGETHER . . . Sport and Recreation Minister Makhosini Hlongwane stresses a point during a Press conference yesterday while International Cricket Council chairman Shashank Manohar (centre) and Zimbabwe Cricket managing director Faisal Hasnain look on

Ellina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE’S quest to host next year’s World Cup qualifiers seems to be taking shape, with the visiting International Cricket Council chairman Shashank Manohar and Minister of Sport and Recreation Makhosini Hlongwane discussing several issues pertaining to the revival of the sport, including the bid.

Addressing the media soon after their meeting at his offices yesterday in Harare, Hlongwane highlighted some of the issues they deliberated on.

“The first issue of discussion is to do with the World Cup qualifiers next year due to be held in Zimbabwe. The ICC chairman has requested that we do provide guarantees at two levels.

“One, the security guarantee for all the teams that will be visiting the country, including the athletes and the technical officials and staff from the ICC to make sure that the games are smooth.

“Secondly, to make sure that we do provide guarantees in terms of tax exemptions especially for the re-exportables that do come into Zimbabwe.

“I have assured Mr Manohar that for us it’s standard practice, this is stuff that we do all the time when we host international matches.

“And in that regard, and to that extent, certainly he is going to be getting the guarantees that he requires in order for Zimbabwe to be able to host the World Cup qualifiers in June of 2018,” said Hlongwane.

Zimbabwe came out as favourites recently at the ICC meeting over the United Arab Emirates as well as Ireland and Scotland who submitted a joint bid to host the tournament.

The ICC Board is expected to pass their decision on the hosting country in October. They also looked at how best Zimbabwe can service their debt which is around $19 million.

“The second issue that was under discussion between myself and the chairman of the ICC was to do with re-engineering the debt with the Zimbabwe Cricket. You know that Zimbabwe Cricket is in debt to the tune of about $19 million.

“We are working on a model of how that debt could be dealt with in a way that would assist Zimbabwe Cricket in terms of its standing, its credibility, its integrity within the community of cricketing nations.

“We have taken very important decisions in that regard which decisions we would not want to announce to the media at the moment but are important as far as assisting the development of Zimbabwe Cricket,” said Hlongwane.

Manohar also offered upcoming Zimbabwean cricketers, through ZC, an opportunity to train in his home country, India.

And the programme will see the first batch of 16 upcoming cricketers, who are currently in England under the Zimbabwe Rising Stars Academy, going to Nagpur, India in October.

The visiting ICC boss, who met with Vice Presidents Emmerson Mnangagwa and Phelekezela Mphoko on Wednesday, is positive Zimbabwe Cricket will rise from its current challenges.

“I can tell you one thing, Zimbabwe has a huge cricketing potential. They were doing well a few years back but because of certain problems which I discussed with the Sports Minister, the cricketing standards have gone down.

“And I am sure with the help of the honourable minister they will be able to sort out those problems in a short time and once they are sorted out you will find Zimbabwe Cricket moving up the ladder,” Manohar said.

ZC chairman Tavengwa Mukuhlani expressed gratitude to Manohar and the ICC family for their continued support.

Sports Commission chairman, Edward Siwela, who also attended the briefing weighed in to say it’s a priviledge to have the ICC chairman coming not only to visit but assist in addressing challenges faced by the Zimbabwe Cricket.