OUTGOING Zimbabwe national cricket team coach Alan Butcher is lobbying cricket investment in the Country Club Academy as a way of giving back to the country which he has coached for three years. REPORT BY KEVIN MAPASURE SENIOR SPORTS REPORTER
Butcher’s contract with the national team runs out on April 3 and the English national has not sought reappointment, choosing to go back to his native England and be with his family.
But the end of his contract will not mark the end of his relationship with Zimbabwe, whom he would have wanted to continue coaching had it not been for family commitments.
Butcher yesterday told NewsDay Sport that he would lobby County sides to come in and invest in the Country Club Academy and help complete the project which has been under reconstruction for half a decade now.
The indoor practice facilities at the club as well as other structures are yet to be completed and Butcher is looking to tempt county sides to develop the important infrastructure.
“This is something that I have been thinking of and I will be sending emails to the county sides to lobby them to invest in the Country Club,” said Butcher.
“The project has been stagnant for a long time, but if county sides can come in and invest, it would benefit them as well. They send their younger players to different parts of the world to go and play first-class cricket and they have a few here at Rocks.
“I think if half a dozen counties were to put together finances, it shouldn’t be expensive for them to invest in that academy. I think that is one way I can continue my relationship with Zimbabwean cricket and I am confident it’s something they can do. I also think I can help get a few local players into some clubs and county sides, depending on their commitments here.”
