Seamer Tinashe Panyangara has been removed from the Zimbabwe squad for the remainder of the triangular series for sharing an intimidating video of Australia fast bowler Mitchell Johnson with his team-mates.
A Zimbabwe Cricket media release confirmed yesterday (Wednesday) that Panyangara had been “expelled” from the Zimbabwe camp because of “indiscipline”, but gave no further details.
“The 28-year-old Panyangara has also been fined one match fee for his behaviour that the national team disciplinary committee found to be disruptive in the build-up to the first ODI of the triangular series, which Zimbabwe played against Australia on Monday,” the statement read.
It has subsequently been established that Panyangara was disciplined because on Sunday he sent his team-mates a highlights package of Johnson from the Ashes series in Australia from Cricket Australia’s YouTube channel.
In the video, Johnson is seen taking wickets and also terrorising England’s batsmen with short deliveries. Although the message was intended as a joke to Zimbabwe’s batsmen, their coach Stephen Mangongo and chief selector Givemore Makoni failed to see the funny side.
Panyangara took 0 for 68 in seven overs as Zimbabwe lost to Australia by 198 runs on Monday, and will now train with the Zimbabwe A squad that is preparing for a tour of Bangladesh next month.
Coach Mangongo said his behaviour could not be “tolerated”.
“In any sport, to post a video of the opposition annihilating another team will not be tolerated. I was perplexed that a senior bowler behaved in such a childish manner,” Mangongo told ESPNcricinfo.
“We have eight other bowlers so I am not worried about who comes in or who goes out; we have heavy competition in the bowling department,” he said. “We are not going to be missing Dale Steyn.”
