Cricket Zimbabwe Under Fire as Fans Demand Wins

Witness Runodada ZimNow reporter

Zimbabwe’s upcoming limited-overs series against Sri Lanka is already stirring debate, but not for reasons the players or administrators might have hoped.

With the first ODI set for 29 August at Harare Sports Club, many fans are less focused on the cricket itself and more outraged by ticket prices that they feel are out of step with the team’s poor performances.

Tickets for the series range from $3 for general entry to $20 for premium Centurion seats, and while officials argue that this gives supporters a range of options, the backlash has been swift. For frustrated fans, it is not the affordability that is in question, but the principle of paying to watch a team that continues to lose more often than it wins.

On social media, the anger has been blunt. “Charging $5 as the cheapest ticket for the T20 series when the team is playing like ass is ridiculous,” wrote one user, adding that the games should actually be free as a form of refund for the “atrocious” Tri-Series earlier this year. Another questioned why anyone should be paying for cricket at all in the current state of the game, while others urged officials to focus less on revenue and more on delivering results, especially since squads for the series have yet to be announced with less than a week to go.

The criticism reflects a growing sense of disillusionment among supporters who feel shortchanged. Many argue that until Zimbabwe can compete consistently and restore pride on the field, administrators should not be asking fans to dig into their pockets. Instead of seeing the Sri Lanka series as an exciting opportunity, some see it as yet another reminder of the widening gap between what is being charged and what is being delivered.