Zimbabwe Cricket sack captain Cremer and all coaching staff

Saturday, 31 March 2018 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

ESPNCricinfo: After giving them an ultimatum to step down, Zimbabwe Cricket has sacked the entire coaching staff following an unsuccessful World Cup qualifier campaign.

The captain Graeme Cremer was another high-profile casualty with reports in the Zimbabwean press suggesting Brendan Taylor will take over leadership of the team.

In addition to the national coaching staff - head coach Heath Streak, batting coach Lance Klusener, bowling coach Douglas Hondo, fielding coach Walter Chawaguta, fitness coach Sean Bell and team analyst Stanley Chioza - all other coaching staff, including the Under-19 coach Stephen Mangongo have been booted out. Convener of selectors Tatenda Taibu has also been stripped of his position.

Streak is the only one with alternative employment at the moment. He was appointed the Kolkata Knight Riders bowling coach for this year’s edition of the IPL.

The mass purge is mostly a result of Zimbabwe missing out on the 2019 World Cup, after a three-run defeat to UAE in the final Super Six match, but will no doubt also be related to finances. Zimbabwe Cricket is muddling through another monetary crunch, only made worse by the fact that they will not be participating in the World Cup. All ZC staff were only paid 40% of their salaries in February.