Jayanti – a cricketing anachronism as Zimbabwe's ‘forgotten’ players make a fresh start

Abstract

Asians provided economic competition in early white-ruled Rhodesia. As a consequence, their permanent settlement was discouraged and their interest in cricket went unnoticed until Wisden acknowledged Mohammad Yusuf's unbeaten 412 – a southern African record for all grades of the game. Rhodesia's first national ‘Indian’ side played in 1939 and toured South Africa in 1953, whilst Basil D'Oliveira's high-flying team was entertained in 1958. The opening of Asian secondary schools, together with the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland's ‘partnership’ ideal, accelerated progress in non-racial cricket across the territory. Asian schoolboys gained selection for non-racial representative sides, but the Rhodesian government's attitude hardened towards mixed sport when the Federation was dissolved in 1963. Innovative Asian cricket administrators established clubs that would ultimately win league titles; produce quality players and lead the way towards establishing Zimbabwe's professional game. Ironically when Test status was achieved the expected impact of the Asian community on cricket was overtaken by political, social and economic problems. By the 2011 World Cup, they were no longer playing a significant role in the Zimbabwean game.