ICC Annual Meeting | Zimbabwe Cricket facing sanctions for constitutional violation, says senior ICC board official

The ICC's annual conclave starts in London on July 15 with the Chief Executives' meeting, right after the culmination of the World Cup. Zimbabwe's membership is almost certain to come under scrutiny due to increased government interference in the country's cricket. As per the ICC's constitution, all cricket boards are autonomous bodies. However, the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC), a government wing, had suspended Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) for violating constitutional norms.

"They (Zimbabwe Cricket) will probably get sanctions and given a list of criteria they need to fulfil or get expelled. Expulsion will not happen this week as they will be given a chance to get their house in order," a senior board official of a member nation told PTI.

The other thing up for debate at the meeting is the proposal to offer NoCs to non-contracted players. However, it is understood that this proposal will be strongly opposed by the BCCI.

"The working group is still considering how to balance the demands of international cricket and domestic T20 and that is one possible thing up for debate," the official said.

BCCI’s objection could well be due to effect this decision would have on players like Irfan Pathan, and Yuvraj Singh. Pathan, who hasn't retired from international cricket but is definitely out of national reckoning, was given permission by the BCCI to play in foreign leagues. Yuvraj recently announced his international retirement to pursue his ambitions to play in Global T20 league in Canada.

Going back to the case of Zimbabwean cricket, it is still likely that the ICC may allow the game to continue. The example was set with the Nepal Cricket board, where the game was allowed to continue but financial sanctions may be imposed and they might not receive annual grants.

"That's for the ICC board to discuss - they may well say cricket can continue (which was what they have done with Nepal), without government interference," the official added.