This archive report was first published on 18 July 2019.
On July 18, 2019, the International Cricket Council (ICC) took a significant step to protect the integrity of the sport by suspending Zimbabwe Cricket over a failure to keep the sport free from government interference.
The decision, made at the ICC board meeting, has put in doubt Zimbabwe's participation in qualifiers for the World T20, including the October men's T20 World Cup Qualifier.
According to the ICC, the elected Zimbabwe Cricket Board will be reinstated to office within three months, and progress in this respect will be considered again at the October board meeting.
"We do not take the decision to suspend a member lightly but we must keep our sport free from political interference," said ICC chairman Shashank Manohar.
The move is part of a broader effort by the ICC to ensure that cricket is governed in accordance with its constitution, which prohibits government interference in the sport.
As a result of the suspension, ICC funding to Zimbabwe Cricket will be frozen, and representative teams from the country will not be allowed to participate in any ICC events.
The ICC has also taken action against other member countries, suspending the Croatia Cricket Federation and the Zambia Cricket Union for continuing non-compliance with ICC membership criteria, and expelling the Moroccan Royal Cricket Federation over the same issue.
