Latest news with #TavengwaMukuhlani
India.com
22-07-2025
- Sport
- India.com
No India Vs Pakistan At Olympics? ICCs Qualification Rules May Ruin Iconic Rivalry At LA28
Cricket is set to make a historic return to the Olympic stage at the Los Angeles 2028 Games, marking its comeback after a staggering 128-year absence. Yet, amid the celebrations, a stark reality is beginning to dawn upon cricket fans: an India vs Pakistan clash at LA28 seems highly unlikely. Also Read: FACT CHECK: Did Arsenal Really Pay £1M For Olivia Smith In Biggest Women's Football Deal Ever? According to a Forbes report, the International Cricket Council (ICC) is considering a regional qualification model that would allow only one Asian team direct entry into the Olympics. With the USA securing an automatic berth as hosts, just five spots remain for men's T20 cricket—and the format might end up denying fans one of the sport's most intense rivalries. Qualification Model Raises Eyebrows: Only One Asian Team Will Qualify The proposed model allocates one automatic spot each to the top-ranked team from Asia, Europe, Oceania, and Africa, with the sixth and final place to be decided via a global qualifying tournament. If adopted, only the top-ranked Asian team—currently India—would earn direct qualification. This leaves Pakistan and other Asian contenders fighting for a single berth in a high-stakes qualifier. While the Indian men's team currently tops the T20I rankings in Asia, any slip-up or scheduling conflict before the final cutoff could open the door for Pakistan or Sri Lanka. In a worst-case scenario, neither India nor Pakistan may make it to LA28—a devastating prospect for fans worldwide. Stakeholders Clash Over Fairness and Development The debate has split cricket's decision-makers. Zimbabwe Cricket chair Tavengwa Mukuhlani, who is also part of the ICC Olympic working group, has called for a more inclusive model. 'We should really make the most of cricket being in the Olympics and have qualifying tournaments instead of rankings, which don't make sense in terms of trying to develop the sport,' Mukuhlani told Forbes. His views are echoed by several associate nations who argue that rankings favor full-member countries and stifle opportunities for emerging cricketing nations. Sumod Damodar, one of the three associate representatives on the ICC Chief Executives' Committee, emphasized the need for cost-effective yet inclusive solutions. 'We don't want to be in situations where every four years we are begging for inclusion,' he said, alluding to the long-term Olympic ambitions for cricket beyond 2028. USA Cricket Under Scrutiny Ahead of Their Olympic Debut As the host nation, USA is guaranteed participation, but their cricket board finds itself under a cloud. Amid governance issues and an ICC ultimatum for the board to resign, USA Cricket has been given a three-month window to resolve internal problems. Failure to do so could threaten their Olympic campaign and put the ICC's LA28 plans in jeopardy. Despite these hurdles, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass remains optimistic, celebrating the success of the PlayLA initiative, which has enrolled over one million participants. 'We are already delivering the Olympic legacy,' said Bass. 'When the world comes here for these Games, we will highlight every neighborhood.' Venue and Schedule Confirmed The cricket matches at the LA 2028 Olympics will be played at a temporary stadium in Pomona, located 50 kilometers from downtown Los Angeles. The T20 competitions will begin on July 12, 2028, two days before the official Olympic opening ceremony, with medal matches scheduled for July 20 and 29. Notably, women's cricket qualification will be tied to performances in the T20 World Cup, but uncertainty looms over how the USA women's team will qualify.
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First Post
21-07-2025
- Sport
- First Post
India vs Pakistan clash at LA 2028 Olympics unlikely as only 1 Asian team to qualify: Report
Cricket will return to the Olympics at LA 2028 after 128 years. However, only one Asian team is reported to qualify directly for the event. This makes an India vs Pakistan clash highly unlikely. The ICC is set to debate the qualification process at its Singapore AGM. read more Cricket is all set to return to the Olympics after 128 years, with men's and women's T20 events scheduled for the Los Angeles 2028 Games. However, fans hoping for an India vs Pakistan clash might be disappointed. According to Forbes, only one Asian team will directly qualify for the men's event, making it very unlikely that both arch-rivals will feature together. The men's and women's competitions will reportedly have just six teams each. The host nation, the USA, is likely to get an automatic slot, which leaves just five remaining spots. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The report suggests that the ICC is leaning towards a regional qualification model. That means only the top-ranked T20I team from each region - Asia, Oceania, Europe, and Africa - will automatically qualify, while the final spot will be decided through a qualifying tournament. This could mean only one Asian team - likely India, based on their superior ranking - would make it directly, leaving Pakistan to fight for the remaining Olympic place in qualifiers. The ICC is currently debating how qualification should work, with the topic set to be discussed at the upcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Singapore. Also Read: PCB stares at loss of crores if Asia Cup is cancelled: 'Revenues from ICC and Asia Cup are very important' Qualification process stirs debate Some associate members want qualifying tournaments instead of just rankings, saying it would give them a fair chance. Zimbabwe Cricket chair Tavengwa Mukuhlani, who is an ICC board director and also part of the Olympic working group, has urged that the qualifying tournament should be for everyone and not just full members. 'We should really make the most of cricket being in the Olympics and have qualifying tournaments instead of rankings, which don't make sense in terms of trying to develop the sport,' Mukuhlani told Forbes. 'The qualifying tournaments should be for everyone and not just Full Members (cricket's 12 nations who receive the most power and funds). It's fairer and if you look at other major sports, like football and basketball, you see some amazing things happen where underdog nations qualify," he added. Also Read: India camp rocked by injury crisis: How team combination could change after Nitish Reddy, Arshdeep Singh blow STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Meanwhile, others have argued that using rankings would be cheaper and easier because cricket's schedule is already packed. However, they also want inclusivity to be a factor and ensure that the right decision is taken so cricket is made part of the Olympics for good and not just for one edition. 'Discussions will be focused on what is the best option and there is the cost factor to consider, but inclusivity has to be a factor too and it would be great to showcase a curtain raiser before the Olympics,' Sumod Damodar, one of the three Associate member representatives on the Chief Executives' Committee, was quoted as saying. 'We need to make sure the right decision is made for cricket because the sport wants to be part of Brisbane 2032 and beyond. We don't want to be in situations where every four years we are begging for inclusion.' The LA28 Olympic cricket matches will be held at a temporary stadium in Pomona, about 50 km from Los Angeles, from July 12 to 29, 2028. Medal matches will be played on July 20 and 29. The cricket matches at Olympics will begin two days before the start of the main event. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Malaysia Sun
19-07-2025
- Sport
- Malaysia Sun
Mukuhlani appointed ACA chairman, eyes Africa T20 League and wider reach for cricket
Harare [Zimbabwe], July 19 (ANI): Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) boss Tavengwa Mukuhlani has been appointed as the new chairman of the Africa Cricket Association (ACA). Mukuhlani had held the post in an acting capacity since November and was formally voted unanimously by all 23 member boards at the ACA's annual general meeting in Singapore on Friday. 'We stand today at the threshold of a new era for African cricket - an era defined by stronger governance, broader opportunity and renewed ambition,' Mukuhlani said in a statement issued by ZC, according to ESPNcricinfo. 'Let us continue building on the progress we have made, united by a common purpose and driven by a shared love for the game,' he added. The ACA, whose membership includes two ICC Full Members, South Africa and Zimbabwe, has just completed a sweeping administrative clean up, adopting a fresh memorandum of incorporation aimed at better governance. Next on its to do list is launching a long planned Africa T20 league, reviving the Afro Asia Cup, and ensuring cricket's presence at the 2027 Africa Games in Egypt. 'These engagements are crucial not only for visibility but also for opening new doors of investment, policy support and continental collaboration,' he said. Mukuhlani has led ZC since 2015, winning three re elections, and currently serves on the ICC's finance and commercial affairs committee. Under his watch ZC clawed its way out of debt, survived a temporary ICC suspension for government interference, and secured a place for the women's team on the Future Tours Programme. The men's side, however, remains outside the World Test Championship (WTC) and missed the last two ODI World Cups as well as the previous T20 World Cup. They do have brighter times ahead as Zimbabwe will co host the 2027 50 over World Cup alongside South Africa and Namibia, and partner Namibia again for the 2026 Under 19 World Cup. (ANI)
News18
19-07-2025
- Sport
- News18
Tavengwa Mukuhlani Appointed ACA Chairman, Promises New Era For African Cricket
Last Updated: Tavengwa Mukuhlani is the new chairman of the Africa Cricket Association. He plans to improve governance and transparency, with initiatives like the Africa T20 competition. Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) chairman Tavengwa Mukuhlani has been unanimously appointed as the chairman of the Africa Cricket Association (ACA), following his interim role since November 2023. His appointment was confirmed at the ACA's annual general meeting in Singapore on Friday, where all 23 member associations endorsed his leadership. Mukuhlani's confirmation comes at a crucial time for African cricket, which is undergoing structural reform. The ACA has recently adopted a new memorandum of incorporation aimed at enhancing governance and transparency across the continent. 'We stand today at the threshold of a new era for African cricket – an era defined by stronger governance, broader opportunity and renewed ambition," Mukuhlani said in a statement issued by Zimbabwe Cricket. 'Let us continue building on the progress we have made, united by a common purpose and driven by a shared love for the game." Among the key initiatives on the ACA's agenda are the long-awaited launch of a continent-wide Africa T20 competition, the revival of the Afro-Asia Cup, and the integration of cricket into the 2027 Africa Games in Egypt. Cricket made its debut at the Africa Games in 2023 in Ghana, where Zimbabwe won both the men's and women's events. South Africa had sent experimental squads, while Zimbabwe fielded an emerging men's team. An experienced administrator, Mukuhlani has led Zimbabwe Cricket since 2015, securing re-election three times. Under his leadership, ZC has reduced its debt, recovered from an ICC suspension over government interference, and secured a place for the women's team in the ICC's Future Tours Programme. (With IANS Inputs) view comments First Published: July 19, 2025, 18:33 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Forbes
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Forbes
Playing Powerhouse England In Test Cricket Has Been Years In The Making For Zimbabwe
When small cricket nation Zimbabwe finally ends a 22-year Test drought against powerhouse England on Thursday, Tavengwa Mukuhlani will be emotional sitting in the terraces at Trent Bridge in Nottingham. He will feel a sense of pride after working tirelessly for a decade as Zimbabwe Cricket's chair to restart bilateral ties with England. 'It's a sense of achievement on the part of Zimbabwe Cricket,' Mukuhlani told me in a phone interview on the eve of the one-off Test running from May 22-26. 'We have worked many years to get this goal fulfilled and it is a dream come true for all of us.' The two countries have not played each other in Tests since 2003, bilaterally since 2004 and not at all since September 2007, when they had met in the inaugural T20 World Cup. The relationship has long proved thorny due to strained political ties during the latter years of the reign of Zimbabwe dictator Robert Mugabe. While Zimbabwe's political situation has changed since Mugabe was ousted from power in 2017, the country's cricket team struggled to unshackle itself from the political interference that started eroding the team in the early 2000s leading to the infamous player revolt in 2004. Zimbabwe in 2019 became the first Full Member cricket nation to be suspended from the International Cricket Council and their funding from the sport's governing body was frozen. But through plenty of work behind the scenes by Mukuhlani and his fellow administrators, and as the political scene became less volatile, Zimbabwe's governing body stabilized leading to a revival of the national team in recent years. However, it's been a battle for Zimbabwe to play Test cricket due to soaring financial costs associated with hosting the five-day format and reluctance from cash cows England, India and Australia to play them. India and Australia have at least played bilateral white-ball series against Zimbabwe in recent years, but resuming ties with England proved tough. After entering the hot seat in 2015, Mukuhlani was keen to engage in discussions but the spectre of Mugabe loomed large. Mugabe's ousting seemed a game-changer, but it still took until the start of this decade for discussions to start progressing before this one-off Test was finally agreed upon. England's cricket board are helping cover some of the tour costs for Zimbabwe, a smaller cricket nation who get significantly less funding from the International Cricket Council than their richer counterpart. England, so too India and Australia, are also armed with a billion dollar domestic broadcast deal compared to Zimbabwe's rather measly $2.5 million per annum from theirs. 'The bigger nations have a big responsibility to take care of the smaller ones to ensure Test cricket flourishes widely,' Mukuhlani said. Zimbabwe are not in the current nine-team World Test Championship and have mostly had to play against the other countries not part of the competition - Ireland and Afghanistan. But Zimbabwe have been determined to become an established Test side and this year will play 11 Tests - the most by any nation along with Australia - that includes a two-Test visit by South Africa next month. Mukuhlani, an influential figure on the ICC board, has been part of a working group focusing on current and future FTP bilateral planning arrangements. Another such committee is in the works looking at cricket's various formats, including Test cricket and perhaps tweaking the WTC. Mukuhlani is against a two division proposal unless it has promotion and relegation, but hopes a fairer structure can be worked out for Test cricket and ironed out in time for the post 2025-27 WTC cycle. 'There have been genuine problems with the FTP structure, but there is a lot of work being done to find solutions because the smaller countries deserve to play Test cricket,' he said. 'We have shown we want to play Test cricket, but it isn't easy hosting matches which costs around $500,000 per Test. So there has to be a way to help with the costs along with setting up domestic structures and A-tour pathways.' There is a lot of momentum for Zimbabwean cricket, with the sport in the landlocked southern African country spreading beyond its white, middle-upper class roots. It has also become a destination for major events, having hosted four international tournaments in recent years. Underlining its increased gravitas among power brokers, Zimbabwe also held the all-important ICC quarterly meetings recently. For so many Zimbabweans, the thought of playing a power nation again in Test cricket appeared a pipedream as the years rolled on. But that long exile finally ends and they are now dreaming big. 'I think the players will pull some surprises and will equip themselves very well on the big stage,' Mukuhlani said. 'It is the start of hopefully an uptick for Zimbabwe's Test team.'
