HARARE – Mitchell Johnson’s path of inadvertent destruction has continued in Harare with a Zimbabwean cricketer sacked – apparently for posting a video of the Australian bowling fast.
In what must rank as one of the harshest firings in cricket history, Zimbabwe fast bowler Tinashe Panyangara has paid the price for sharing a video with teammates on social media app, Whatsapp chat, of Johnson in action against England during the last Ashes series.
Sending around the video of Johnson’s bouncers, and implying Zimbabwe’s batsmen might be in for a tough time against the quickest man in world cricket, has been deemed worthy of a $US1000 ($A1082) fine and being stood down for the rest of the tri-series.
Panyangara allegedly shared the video on Sunday night, on the eve of Zimbabwe’s opening ODI clash with Australia.
Several media outlets reported its distribution cost him his place in the side and the fine.
The bizarre news comes two days after Johnson smashed the window of the Harare Sports Club commentary box with a straight six, sending callers flying.
Zimbabwe Cricket issued an official statement which made no mention of the reasons for Panyangara’s punishment, however it said the team’s disciplinary committee had found the side’s most experienced seamer “disruptive in the build-up to the first ODI of the triangular series”.
Johnson took one wicket and struck Zimbabwe captain Elton Chigumbura on the helmet, in a match Australia won by 198 runs.
It’s not the first iron-fisted decision made by Zimbabwe coach Steve Mangongo in recent times.
He dropped Luke Jongwe for breaching team curfew and the team’s best player Brendan Taylor for an unexplained reason.
Mangongo reportedly sets a tight 9.30pm curfew for Zimbabwe players and doesn’t let them consume alcohol. AAP/smh.com.au
This is the video Panyangara is rumoured to have sent to his teammates.
