Zimbabwe readmitted as International Cricket Council member

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ICC had frozen funding to Zimbabwe Cricket for failing to keep government interference at bay. Photo: File

DUBAI: Cricket chiefs readmitted Zimbabwe as an International Cricket Council member on Monday following a three-month suspension over political interference.

An ICC statement said the move followed a meeting in Dubai involving the Zimbabwe Cricket chairman Tavengwa Mukuhlani and sports minister Kirsty Coventry.

"I would like to thank the Zimbabwe sports minister for her commitment to the reinstatement of Zimbabwe Cricket," said ICC chairman Shashank Manohar.

"Her desire to work in support of Zimbabwe Cricket was clear and she has unconditionally complied with the conditions set down by the ICC board."

Zimbabwe will now be able to take up their place in the men´s Under-19 World Cup in January and the ICC Super League later in 2020.

"We are elated to get our membership restored and this marks the beginning of a new, exciting chapter for our cricket, with ZC´s (Zimbabwe Cricket) focus now fully back on ensuring our game is thriving, sustainable and financially stable," said Mukuhlani.

"This would not have been possible without the steadfast support of the ICC and our colleagues from other member boards and we are very grateful to them."

Read also: ICC suspends Zimbabwe Cricket for failing to keep govt interference at bay

Nepal has also been readmitted as an ICC member on a conditional basis following their 2016 suspension for a breach of regulations which prohibit government interference and require free and fair elections.

Manohar said: "Given the progress made in Nepal, a transition plan will now be developed for the Cricket Association of Nepal to support full compliance with associate membership criteria, which will also involve controlled funding."

Zimbabwe's punishment was imposed in July after the cricket board was suspended by the government and replaced with an interim committee.

Political turmoil within the sport and a string of humiliating performances led Zimbabwe to suspend their involvement in Test cricket in 2005, although they continued to play one-day internationals and T20 internationals at the highest level.

They returned to Test cricket in 2011 but are languishing in 11th place in the rankings.

They are 12th in the ODI rankings and did not qualify for this year's World Cup in England and Wales.

Boundary count rule scrapped

Following its board meetings on Monday, the ICC said that it had changed regulations to scrap the boundary count to decide a winner if teams were tied after a Super Over in a final.

England ended their 44-year wait for a maiden 50-overs World Cup title in July by beating New Zealand on boundaries after a tied Super Over in the title clash.

“Following on from a recommendation from the ICC Cricket Committee, the Chief Executives’ Committee agreed that use of the Super Over as a way to decide results at ICC events will be retained,” the ICC said.

Read also: ICC scraps Super Over boundary count rule after controversial World Cup final

“Both... agreed it was an exciting and engaging conclusion to the game and will remain in place covering all games at both ODI and T20I World Cups.

“In group stages, if the Super Over is tied the match will be tied. In semi-finals and finals... the Super Over will be repeated until one team has more runs than the other.”

Other decisions included increasing the prize money for ICC women’s events by $2.6 million following a rise in the revenue generated by the sport.

As a result, the winners and runners-up of the Women’s T20 World Cup in Australia next year will receive $1 million and $500,000, respectively.