Is That A Prison Facility? – Zimbabwe Cricket Faces Heat Over Viral Team Entrance Video

Viral Video Shows Zimbabwe Cricket’s Prison-Like Entrance

A wave of disbelief swept across social media after Zimbabwe Cricket posted a video of the national team’s arrival at Harare Sports Club for a crucial ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier match on Friday. Instead of drawing pride, the clip sparked outrage, with fans mocking the dusty, unpaved entrance and broken facilities that greeted the Chevrons.

The viral post on X by Zimbabwe Cricket read: “Zimbabwe have entered the building”, accompanied by the hashtags #T20WorldCup and #RoadTo2026. The video, which has been viewed more than 25,000 times, shows players stepping off the bus and walking across a bare, dusty surface towards a building with a broken sign and worn-out fencing. The stark visuals, in contrast to the event’s international stature, triggered an immediate backlash online.

“Is That A Prison Facility?”

Social media users tore into the video with biting comparisons. Ntate Mdluli (@NtateRanaka) set the tone with a blunt question:

“Is that a prison facility or what?”

F U T U R E M B I N G A (@TakudzwaWorld) ridiculed the entrance, saying:

“Uhmm kuita kunge vakusvika pa mupandawana growth point (It looks like they have arrived at Mpandawana Growth Point (a rural business centre). Haaa that ZC board is incompetent beyond the word incompetent.”

The comparisons to schools and rural centres were echoed by Hwenje (@WogaTheo), who wrote:

“Entrance iyo kunge paSt Nyoka High School (That entrance is like the one at St Nyoka High School).”

Mboe Dawu (@mboe_sibanda) dismissed the setting outright:

“As if they are entering a boozers league ground.”

Carlito263 (@Carl35877861) linked the entrance to Zimbabwe’s on-field decline:

“We know the standards have fallen over the years but guys isaiwo pavement zvinomakisa izvi (please put pavement, this is embarrassing) even the sign is broken it reflects on the field no wonder takutamba ne shiri haaa zvadhakwa (no wonder we are struggling and now playing against minnows).”

Calls For Basic Improvements

Beyond mockery, many fans expressed frustration that Zimbabwe Cricket had failed to address such a basic issue. Sandile (@mickeystreak) questioned why the ICC continues to grant Zimbabwe hosting rights, saying:

“Damn you can’t even pave that small area and its surroundings. Why does @ICC continue to give you rights to host so many qualifiers when you can’t even develop your infrastructure?”

Mncedisi (@Mncedisi_mengu) asked why the board ignored such a cheap fix:

“Paving the entrance is not even expensive, ko murikuita sei?? (what are you doing??).”

Others turned their attention to the team bus, which they said looked outdated. Shuto (@sshuto13) remarked:

“Look at the bus our Senior National Cricket Team is using. Something looks fishy in terms of where the cricket funds are going.”

Gerry (@BhobhoManhuwa) echoed the sentiment:

“You can’t even make that place look nice and proper and get a new bus that tells athletes you mean business.”

Even the players’ attire came under scrutiny. T.J.MAP (@TJMAP5) mocked one cricketer’s casual footwear:

“That rasta with slippers. Every one is wearing sneakers iye zvima slides (he is in slides).”

A Victory Overshadowed By Dust

Ironically, the uproar over the entrance came on the same day Zimbabwe began their qualifying campaign with a strong performance. The Chevrons defeated Uganda by five wickets at Harare Sports Club, with Brian Bennett hammering 72 off 44 balls.

The official match report confirmed Zimbabwe chased down Uganda’s 152 with 15 balls to spare, Bennett earning Player of the Match honours. Yet online, the victory was drowned out by criticism of the venue’s appearance.

Immanuel Shaanika (@ImmShaanika) demanded accountability, writing:

“What kind of rubbish entrance is that? You are busy talking about Rhodesians yet ZC can’t even pave an entrance… what kind of incompetence is this?”

Although a handful of users defended the scene, with Trevor Ngorima (@NgorimaTrevor) saying, “This is Africa. We are not a concrete jungle,” the overwhelming response was one of anger and disappointment. For many, the viral clip has become a symbol of long-standing frustrations over infrastructure and governance at Zimbabwe Cricket.

Follow Us on Google News for Immediate Updates

The post Is That A Prison Facility? – Zimbabwe Cricket Faces Heat Over Viral Team Entrance Video appeared first on iHarare News.

  • 98