Zimbabwe sports minister Kirsty Coventry denies interference in cricket after ICC suspension

Zimbabwe sports minister Kirsty Coventry on Friday stated the government has not been interfering in the running of the country’s cricket.

Former Olympic swimming champion Coventry said in a tweet that she was “devastated” by the decision by the International Cricket Council to suspend Zimbabwe Cricket over ‘political interference’ in its administration.

ICC’s decision came after Zimbabwe Cricket’s suspension by the country’s Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) in June, which was seen as government interference.

The ICC said the elected board must be reinstated within three months.

Coventry said in her tweet that although the SRC was appointed by the sports minister: “SRC is not government – they are a public body.”

In another tweet, she stated: “There is need for good governance at ZC for the international success we all want to see.”

Coventry said she will meet the country’s men’s and women’s captains over the weekend.