Zambian cricket was thrown into chaos with the news that the Zambian Cricket Union has been dissolved, the latest move in a long-running dispute between various members of the board.
The dissolution was announced by Absalom Mwansa, the chairman, along with his own resignation. He explained that as there was nobody able to take over from him, he had no choice but to take that course of action. "I want to uphold my personal integrity and respect that I command in cricket circles," Mwansa wrote, "and I also want the sport to be run in a transparent manner."
But the act was criticised by Moffat Mbewe, the board's general secretary, who said the suspension was unconstitutional. "A body such as ours can only be dissolved by the National Sports Council of Zambia and not the chairman," Mbewe explained. "If he had consulted before making such an erroneous decision, we would have guided him."
Until an extraordinary general meeting can be called, the country's cricketing affairs will be controlled by the ZCU's two affiliates, Midlands Cricket Association (MCA) and Copperbelt Cricket Association.
Mwansa's resignation came in the same week that Musa Zulu, the ZCU's treasurer, announced that he was stepping down.