Reviving Zimbabwe Will Be A Lengthy Process

It felt like a landmark moment in world cricket.

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An emerging Zimbabwe were the feel good story of the 1999 World Cup after a breakthrough campaign where they reached the Super Six Stage following stunning upsets of India and South Africa.

Fuelled by a talent-laden team comprising the brilliant Flower brothers, workhorse Heath Streak and spectacular all-rounder Neil Johnson, Zimbabwe led by the redoubtable leadership of Alistair Campbell had made their mark on the world stage. It continued the goodwill after they had defeated India and Pakistan in consecutive Test series in 1998. The 2000s was set to offer so much promise for them in an exciting phase for international cricket shackled by so few Full Members.

Unfortunately, it all went downhill shortly after through internal chaos amid a volatile backdrop of political and economic upheaval suffocating the country. Perhaps it was inevitable Zimbabwe was going to be muddied by the tentacles of Robert Mugame’s oppressive regime, but undeniably their cricketing plight has been a travesty.

After such momentum heading into the turn of the century, Zimbabwe have become an afterthought and seemingly only make headlines for all the wrong reasons. Ever since political interference started fracturing them in the early 2000s leading to the infamous player revolt in 2004, Zimbabwe has been a basket case marked by a painful five-year exile from Test cricket and a slew of talented players leaving the country.