 Carlisle says Zimbabwe's cricketers "have had enough" |
Former Zimbabwe captain Stuart Carlisle says cricket's world governing body the ICC is to blame for the country's decision to quit Test cricket in 2006. Zimbabwe's interim board announced the move on Wednesday - and Carlisle says it could have been avoided.
"This is very embarrassing for cricket in Zimbabwe," he told BBC Sport.
"I put 95% of the blame on the ICC. They could have done a lot more and avoided this. But they just didn't want to get involved."
Carlisle said the ICC would eventually have to abandon its non-interventionist policy.
"One day the ICC is going to have to stand up and make a decision on something," he said. "They can't always pass it on and say it's an 'internal matter'. They're going to have to grow a spine and make a decision."
Peter Chingoka, chairman of Zimbabwe Cricket's new interim board, said the decision to withdraw from Test cricket was made after "consideration of the recent performances by the national and A teams".
 |  The majority of the players will be walking away once they're paid - they've had enough |
This is the second time in 20 months that the country has been forced to cancel its Test commitments.
Carlisle says the whole situation could have been avoided with action a year and a half ago.
In April 2004, ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed travelled to Zimbabwe to talk to the country's cricket chiefs about a boycott by the country's top white players.
Speed was forced to return home after the Zimbabwean officials refused to meet him.
"Instead of sending Speed, they should have sent a committee," Carlisle said.
"They should have sent a three-man research team and spoken to players and administrators. "They always get one side of the story. They could have sorted this out a long time ago."
Carlisle says Zimbabwe will not be able to return to the Test arena until deep-seated problems are resolved.
The country's top players went on strike in November because they claimed to be owed match fees dating back to August 2005.
They suspended the strike the day after the interim board was appointed, but Carlisle believes the players still want out.
He said: "The majority of the players will be walking away once they are paid - they've just had enough.
"I can't foresee Zimbabwe regaining Test status until they pay the players and sort out the product."
Carlisle described the withdrawal from the Test arena as very "sad and embarrassing" for Zimbabwean cricket and believes it will damage the country's young cricketers.
"The youngsters are going to get even worse if they aren't playing Test matches," he said.
"I feel very sorry for them. I bet they didn't even know about the decision until it was announced."
MMIX
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