Members of the Zimbabwe Cricket Supporters Union on Monday protested against the national team’s dismal performance in the ongoing limited overs series against a third string India side at Harare Sports Club.
India cruised to a nine wicket victory to secure an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three match series yesterday.
Supporters waved placards, chanted slogans and erupted into jeer songs expressing their displeasure with the Chevron’s disgraceful showing in the second ODI.
Despite Vusi Sibanda’s 53, the Chevrons batting dramatically collapsed from 106-3 in the 25th over to 126 by the 35th over –losing six wickets for just 20 runs.
India, 129-2 in 26,5 overs, easily chased Zimbabwe’s target of 126 all out with a massive 139 balls remaining.
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| Cricket Fans Cry Foul Over Zimbabwe Team’s Dismal Perfomance |
“We have experienced players with us. We have players that can easily read the game. The position we were in it was a perfect position. 25 overs and all of a sudden we lost two wickets within one over.”
He added:
“For me it tells you straight away that we don’t respect a good over. That on its own it changed the game.
“A good over where we try to force matters that’s when it changes. Now they need to learn that when a guy is bowling very well respect that.”
With such pathetic display, the band of fans couldn’t take it anymore and decided to engage in raising placards, chanting slogans and erupting into jeer songs in protest of Zimbabwe as the side was defending its shameful total.
The supporters, occupying one of the grand stands, engaged in songs like ‘ndimi makauraya’, Albert Nyathi’s ‘Senzeni Na?’ with catchy part lyrics going ‘tatadzeiko’ and Matias Xavier’s ‘Tormented Soul’ -song normally played when mourning a national hero or heroine.
Some of the placards branded Zimbabwe’s performance as treasonous while others sarcastically invited Sir Wicknell into the Zimbabwe Cricket crises.
The message from the fans to the players was clear and audible enough and most of them received the chants and jeers perhaps with mixed feelings.
“I heard some of the words that came out they are obviously not nice. We represent our country and they are disappointed as much as we are,” Sibanda said.
“They expected a lot from us, they are following us and if we don’t do exceptionally well obvious they are going to be disappointed.”
He added:
“But then to step out and get personal it’s obviously the wrong side. I would say if we don’t do well, yes it’s disappointing, but we also want them to stand by us as well as the rest of the nation.
“If things are not going well we need to stick together. We also need their support in a positive way.”
The supporters, who normally occupy the Castle Corner stand, left a large placard branded ‘What a shame’ on the terraces as they exited the venue.
Source: H Metro
