Zimbabwe ready to forgo test status

The government has taken over the running of cricket in Zimbabwe, and is ready to give up Test status.

In a major development, Zimbabwe's government on Friday overtook the running of cricket in the African nation, according to the ICC website.

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"Today (Friday), the drama finally unfolded. It's now confirmed. The Zimbabwe government has finally taken over Zimbabwe Cricket in a shattering move that will almost certainly usher the ultimate demise of the game in the country," the portal said.

Only last month, the national team had announced it would go on indefinite strike in protest at the way the national governing body was running the game in Zimbabwe.

The ICC website said the government announced the reinstatement of Peter Chingoka as chairman of an interim board to run ZC.

In a confrontational mode, the government also made it clear that the country was ready to face a relegation from the Test-status.

"We are prepared to be chucked out of the Test status. The government is saying we are starting afresh. We are not bothered.