Story by Lawrence Trusida, Sports Editor
THE International Cricket Council (ICC) Chairperson Jay Shah has arrived in Zimbabwe for a series of ICC meetings beginning this Thursday in Harare.
Zimbabwe is set to host a series of ICC meetings in Harare and Victoria Falls beginning this Thursday.
Apart from the ICC Chairperson, all the leaders of all cricket-playing nations are in Zimbabwe for a series of meetings in the capital, which will culminate in a full board meeting set for Victoria Falls.
“I am pleased to be in Zimbabwe, we are looking forward to fruitful engagements with Zimbabwe after our ICC meetings. We want Zimbabwe to be back to where it was and producing big talents like the Flower brothers,” Shah said.
Zimbabwe has hosted international events like the World Cup Qualifiers and co-hosted the 2003 World Cup, however, this is the first time the country is hosting the full ICC board meeting since attaining test status in 1992 and Zimbabwe Cricket views this as an endorsement of the country as a safe sporting destination.
“This is a game changer, it is an endorsement of the country as a safe sporting destination. Everyone is in Zimbabwe including those who have not been playing us and it is a chance for them to see how hospitable we are as a country and how safe Zimbabwe is, this is also big in terms of sports tourism for the country,” Zimbabwe Cricket Chairperson, Tavengwa Mukuhlani said.
The full board meeting will be held in Victoria Falls after which the ICC Chairperson is expected to visit the Mosi oa Tunya Stadium which is being constructed in the resort city and earmarked to host World Cup matches in 2027 when Zimbabwe co-hosts with South Africa and Namibia.
Zimbabwe has been extensively pursuing sports diplomacy as a tool for re-engagement and next month, the senior nation team, the Chevrons will travel to England for a test match for the first time in two decades.
