Ntini almost hanged himself after Zimbabwe's series defeat

Harare: A second-string India side humbled a full-strength Zimbabwe by nine wickets for the second time in three days to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the one-day international series at Harare Sports Club on Monday.

 

The result has left Zimbabwe interim coach, Makhaya Ntini fuming and has prompted some fans to vent out their disappointment.

"I almost hanged myself," Zimbabwe interim coach Makhaya Ntini said. "If there was a tomato tree outside I would have hanged myself in that tomato tree.

"It’s no good. We have experienced players with us who can easily read the game. We were in the perfect position."

Zimbabwe’s cause was not helped by the fact that Sean Williams, who was drafted in as a replacement for the injured Craig Ervine, took a blow to the finger during the warm-ups and was unable to bat.

Zimbabwe’s feeble performance led the few supporters in the ground to stage something of a protest against their players, as they held up banners and whistled during the early stages of India’s chase.

 

One of the placards read: "We cannot support disaster, calamity and quagmire of epic proportions."

"I heard some of the words that came out and they’re obviously not nice. We’re representing our country and they’re as disappointed as we are," Vusi Sibanda said afterwards.

"We want them to stand by us when things aren’t going well so we can pull in the same direction, because otherwise we can’t achieve anything."