HARARE – The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Wednesday demanded that the Zimbabwe government should unconditionally re-instate the suspended Zimbabwe Cricket board by October 8 or face a permanent exile from international competitions.

The stark choice was delivered by the ICC on Wednesday in a letter to Zimbabwe Cricket.

The ICC suspended Zimbabwe last week after the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) suspended the Tavengwa Mukuhlani-led ZC board elected on June 14 this year. It appointed an interim committee to run cricket, with Dave Ellman Brown as the chairman.

The SRC had ordered Zimbabwe Cricket not to go ahead with the elections but the board – which the SRC accuses of being corrupt – said it did not take instructions from the government body, currently headed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s son-in-law, Gerald Mlotshwa.

Sports Minister Kirsty Coventry, who supports the SRC move, protested that the constitutional body was not part of the government, an issue which the ICC tackled in their letter.

“The ICC board is of the unanimous view that the above acts, as well as the full terms of the SRC resolution removing the democratically elected board of Zimbabwe Cricket are acts of government interference in the administration of Zimbabwe Cricket,” the ICC said, citing its membership rules which require associations to “ensure that there is no government (or other public or quasi-public body) interference in its governance, regulation and/or administration.”

Zimbabwe Cricket’s funding from the ICC has been curtailed and teams have been blocked from future events.

A path to regaining their membership has been put their way but it must include the full reinstatement of the former board and evidence that any government influence has ended.

“Should you wish the ICC to reconsider your suspension, you are required to take all relevant steps to ensure that the Board of Zimbabwe Cricket elected on June 14, 2019, is unconditionally reinstated forthwith and, in any event, no later than October 8, 2019, so that the ICC Board can review the matter when it convenes on October 12, 2019, for its next meeting,” the letter to Zimbabwe Cricket read.

“You are also required to provide satisfactory evidence to ensure that the Zimbabwe Cricket will administer its affairs free of external interference and influence.

“Should the ICC not receive a satisfactory response from you on the above terms, within the stipulated timeframe, the ICC reserves its right to take such further action as it deems appropriate including to proceed by way of termination of your membership as provided for in the Articles of Association.”

Zimbabwe are scheduled to take part in the Men’s T20 World Cup qualifier in October and November in the United Arab Emirates but their participation in that event is now under serious doubt, given the timeline outlined by the ICC.

News of the suspension was followed by four players a coach from the Women’s Global Development Squad being prevented from travelling to England for the Kia Super League due to start next month.

Captain Mary-Anne Musonda and teammates Anesu Mushangwe, Tasmeen Granger and Sharne Mayers were all due to take part in the T20 competition while coach Adam Chifo was expected to accompany them, but they have also been blocked from attending.