Should the English cricket team refuse to compete in Zimbabwe?

Great Debates
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As an aside, I’ve been recently been dwelling on this seeming current media determination to hold a definite opinion on every subject under the sun – little seems up for discussion, there’s little or no ambivalence, few want more information, everything must be seen in black and white and in a hurry….is this high-pitched shrieking how things get on the eve of destruction ?.

Thanks for flagging up Imran’s article, Hawthorne , now there’s a man not frightened to hold a view, or several. I’m afraid I can’t agree that – at least in relation to Blair – he is “scathing” but I do think he does a reasonable good hatchet job on Bush (through the middle section of the piece).

On Blair, Imran seems to condemn on the basis of support for Bush this far – personally, I’d tend to the view that things have worked out pretty well so far (Inspectors back in and busy). Interestingly, he seems able to condemn when his national Association doesn’t.

That really highlights the problem I have: everyone’s claiming the moral high ground, everyone wants to form a definitive view and impose that on others. For me – I repeat myself – there is no objective, moral course to steer though this one to the high ground. There are no obvious right or wrongs, no clear black and white; it boils down to a personal, moral judgment.

And dear old Imran’s condemnation of Blair is just a tad rich at this stage, IMHO, especially given the number of Iraqi (Muslim) refugees hanging around this town, not to mention the Pakistani’s that have fled here over the years to escape the people Imran (presumably) now entertains in Pakistan on his own political odyssey.

But he’s not alone, on all sides the duplicity is deafening.

How ‘bout we all subscribe to Amnesty and let the sort it all out ?
Thanks everton - that explains some of it. Still having trouble with 2 Tests = several million quid, though.

22

Its the POTENTIAL costs of:

Loss of television revenue for the match

Cancellation clauses in the contracts to play

Loss of the Zimbabwe tour (two bob)

Being sued by the Indian dominated ICC for faliure to fulfil a contract (India are very much in favour of the game going ahead)

Sponsors refusing to pay SKY etc, and the subsequent claim from Sky.

Possible prize money (if we don’t go, the game is forfeit, and we may not progress to the more lucrative parts ).

£10,000,000 is the absolute maximum it could cost us, based on us not WINNING the cup because of this. Now we all know how realistic this is.

The actual cost is probably somewhat lower

23

Though comparing England’s human rights record with Mugabe’s regime is far-fetched, it is strange that there was hardly any discussion and debate when it came to cricketing nations touring Bangladesh, for instance.

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Or, for that matter, holding the ICC Tournament of Champions in Kenya under arap Moi, which no-one seemed to mind.

I’m starting to wonder whether this situation is similar to the calls by the New York Times, among other sources, for Tiger Woods to boycott The Masters because Augusta National (home of the Masters) refuses to admit female members. Yes, perhaps given Augusta National’s bigotry, a boycott call might not be unreasonable. But it is unreasonable to put all the pressure on Mr. Woods. Why should he have to forfeit The Masters while it’s OK for everyone else to play? If he doesn’t play, would that assuage everyone else’s guilt?

Same thing with England here. During this World Cup, Namibia (Feb 10), India (Feb 19), Australia (Feb 24), Holland (Feb 28), and Pakistan (Mar 4) are also scheduled to play in Zimbabwe. Where are the calls for these nations to boycott their matches? You’d think Australia in particular would face these calls–after all, they boycotted a game against Sri Lanka in the 1996 World Cup for “safety concerns.” Who’s more “safe” now, Zimbabwe in 2003 or Sri Lanka in 1996? I suppose you could say that England has a colonial debt to pay for in Zimbabwe. But why would England’s forfeit change that? The main calls for a boycott focus on the “prestige” the games will bring to Mugabe. What would be more “prestigous” than having the world champions (Australia) playing in a World Cup game on Zimbabwean soil, no doubt with Mugabe in attendance?

Despite all that…I think I am beginning to see the point of the boycott. When I wrote in the last thread on this subject (here), I didn’t think the MDC was fully against it. Now they are. Mugabe is openly crowing about having the English come. Black Zimbabwe cricketers are starting to protest the actions of the Zimbabwe Cricket Union, which supports the match. (Sorry, I’d provide a cite for the last, but I read it on a members-only page on Wisden.com.)

What do I think the best solution will be? Pretend the game is going to take place up till the day beforehand. Then cancel it with the world watching. It won’t happen–the England and Wales Cricket Board, from its inception, has always been about doing the expedient thing rather than the right thing.

There’s a former cricketer from Ghana who could do something about this mess. Speak up, Mr. Annan.

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If they’ve been threatened, they should drop plans to attend. I have my doubts as to how much security the Zimbabwe government could/would provide, especially considering it’s headed by a racist despot.

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What I really, really can’t believe is that Mbeki, the South African prime minister, gave Mugabe a clean bill of health. I guess that whole Nelson Mandela hope thing was just a pipe dream. I’d be shocked if we don’t see Mbeki accumulating dictatorial power within the next couple of years.

27

I guess what I’d like to see (rather than all this hand-wringing, ‘white man’s burden’ stuff) is either;

A little leadership on the issue from the region (as said from Mbeki or Kofi Annan), or

An argument that convinces me playing cricket in Zimbabwe at this time in some way contributes to legitimizing Mugabe or reinforces his position in a way the 300 UK businesses currently operating in the country don’t ?
What is the power that cricket holds that conventional political or economic action don’t ?

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** Duke **
England is the focus of all this because in the ultimate analysis it is Mugabe versus the white settlers. May be that explains why there is some pressure on Australia too. IIRC, they cancelled a tour last year. But, I agree that it is somewhat illogical. No one cares about Bangladesh or, as you said, Kenya, and it is really more a human rights issue than a British issue.

London_Calling,
I am afraid we are not going to find any of that. There might be a surprise in store once the Cup starts…but I have a feeling there is too much money and prestige involved for any loud voices. And, your point about the already existing businesses is on the money. Despite the controversy over his regime, Mugabe has not been treated an outcast. He was recently invited to a summit in France… so the powers that be have not ex-communicated him to the extent where playing cricket under his regime is unthinkable or at least inconsistent with how he is generally treated by foreign governments.

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I am afraid that this will not come from Mbeki - he is still stuck in the role of grateful friend to Mugabe (and will be for some time I fear). Zimbabwe was a great ally in the struggle against Apartheid and such favours are not quickly forgotten. For a parallel, see Mandela’s support for Libya’s President Gadafi in the issue of the Lockerbie bombers and the West’s continuing sanctions against that country.(link)**

I agree absolutely - we have known that these matches would be played in Zimbabwe for over a year now, and it is not as if Mugabe has suddenly started mis-treating his people - that too has been happening for years - why is this fuss being made now, so close to the tournament? Why is the pressure being placed on cricketers, rather than businesses or politicians?**

The government doesn’t need to pick up the tab??? :frowning:

Grim

30

And we Brits are hopping mad about this too.

This is all you need to know about the French.

From todays reports the game is looking more and more unlikely. No doubt “security concerns” will be cited.

31

Wisden.com is now reporting that the England players are calling for their match against Zimbabwe to be switched to a site in South Africa. The Australian Players’ Association is doing likewise. More news to follow soon, I gather.

One must now assume there will be a “compromise” of some kind between the ICC and the players’ unions, but I can’t imagine what that will be yet.

32

A press conference was held at 1400 GMT in which Richard Bevan of the Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA) and Tim Lamb of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) stated their position on the Zimbabwe situation. Here are some points from it:

Quoting from the minutes of a meeting between the players with the PCA and ECB, Bevan stated that the players have made an urgent request for the match to be moved from Harare to a venue in South Africa. They have made this request having taken into account moral, political and contractual considerations and having discussed the matter with representatives of the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

The players had stated that they are particularly concerned by:
[ul][li]recent incidents including firebombing of a ZANUPF office[/li][li]a statement by the mayor of Harare saying he couldn’t guarantee safety popular dissatisfaction with the Mugabe regime[/li][li]the discovery of “an arms cache” allegedly intended to be used by opposition groups against England players.[/li]
However, Tim Lamb later criticised the press for distorting stories about these arms. He said that they amounted to 2000 rounds of ammunition and 24 bayonets found on a white-owned farm outside Harare, which were not expected to be used against the players after all but as part of violent anti-government protests instead.[/ul]
Lamb claimed he had been told the Zimbabwean police could contain small to medium scale public disorder, but he believed there was serious risk that this action would be brutal in nature and that a large public protest would involve the army and extreme violence. They players are concerned for people and opposition supporters who may be targeted by the police.

It is intended that compensation will be paid to the Zimbabwean Cricket Union.

The ICC have stated that the latest date that a decision could be taken to relocate the match is February 9[sup]th[/sup] and the ECB intend to use that period of time to negotiate a solution with the ICC. A meeting is planned for Thursday 30[sup]th[/sup] January.

The ECB were strongly critical of the government’s lack of support and advice. They reiterated that the venues for the World Cup matches were known to include Zimbabwe four years ago, yet as late as January 9[sup]th[/sup] they were told that they had to make the decision themselves and that no compensation would be payable to them if they withdrew from the fixture.


*Taking questions from the floor*, Lamb said that the ECB does not intend to pull out from the fixture and supports the ICC position that the match should take place unless safety considerations prevent this.

The players have not refused to play and although as individuals they have struggled with their consciences about whether or not they ought to there is unanimity within the squad currently returning from Australia. If the ICC don’t move the fixture it remains unclear how the players would respond.

He complained that cricket was being expected to carry an unfair burden of political responsibility, that commercial and diplomatic relations between the UK and Zimbabwe were still normal and that Zimbabwe had participated in the Commonwealth Games last summer as well as the Davis Cup.

Lamb has calculated that the match in Harare might be worth up to US$3-4 million (including TV rights, sponsorship deals etc.), and that since the ECB is liable for “unlimited damages” if they withdrew from the fixture they had to take that into consideration. The ECB is a non-profit-making organisation that derives 85% of its income from international matches.

He denied that the players had received death threats but that they had received political pamphlets urging them not to play. If it is believed that the players face personal risk the ECB will not expect them to travel to Zimbabwe irrespective of the ICC’s position.

International conferences of players’ unions are also in discussion and although Lamb couldn’t make a statement on behalf of the Australian players, for example, he expected them to take a similar line to the English ones.

**To summarise the position, the players want the match moved because they are worried about safety of the Zimbabwean public if the match goes ahead as planned.**
33

Thanks for the update, everton. The most troubling thing I have seen in reports from the meeting was that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has “assured” the Player’s Association that any disturbances would be put down by “brute force.” Not very assuring to me, or anyone else I can imagine. That was the immediate reason for Bevan’s statement that the England players were concerned “for the safety of the Zimbabwean people.”

I should also add that, unlike in the English situation, the Australian Board of Cricket is backing their players’ safety concerns, and has announced that it “reserves the right to pull out of the [match] at any moment.” The ECB is looking very toothless right now.

34

Thought it couldn’t get any worse for the ECB? Wrong. In this update from BBC Sport’s page, the ICC confirm that the Zimbabwe v England (and Kenya v New Zealand) matches would go ahead at their appointed venues.

(my bold) A report by US security consultants Kroll has indicated that the players and officials would not, themselves, be at risk. This ignores the expressed concerns of the players that spectators and members of the Zimbabwean public opposed to the Mugabe regime would be at risk. A link from that site gives the reaction from the PCA. They are openly critical of the ICC decision, but privately must be furious with the ECB too.

Further discussions are planned between the players, their lawyers and the Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations.

35

…heh, heh, the ICC have confirmed that the Kenya vs New Zealand match will take place, but New Zealander’s haven’t…

http://stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,2231359a10,00.html

…the New Zealand cricket team has been in two very serious terrorist incidents recently, once in Sri Lanka and once, just last year, in Pakistan. (a bomb exploded outside the New Zealand team’s hotel-if it had happened a couple of minutes later, we would have lost half our team).

A report conducted by New Zealand Cricket into the Security precautions in Kenya did not come up very favourably for the Kenyan security, so NZC pulled the plug…

…which means that we take a 1.5 Million dollar fine, and the confiscation of 2 competition points…

36

Ever since I have been in the US (2.5 yrs) I haven’t had a decent way to watch cricket. This time, it won’t be because of lack of Cable.

And this is the World Cup.

damn…

37

Gyan9, I can sympathize completely (take a look at my location line :frowning: ). Maybe you can watch it on pay-per-view, but if you want to, I hope you’ve recently won the lottery, as it’s going to be monsterously expensive.

everton: I almost died laughing when I saw that on wisden.com…the ECB lurches from disaster to disaster every year, but that takes the cake. They’re almost asking for a Packeresque schism in the game, especially when they claim that the loss of the Zimbabwe match would cost them millions of pounds–very little of which the players would actually see themselves. Then there’s the dust-up between the ICC and Indian players over sponsorship, the above-mentioned situation between New Zealand and Kenya, the Australian players’ concern…yes, the time is ripe for another Packer to appear on the scene.

38

Breaking News - England will NOT play their opening match in Harare

At last a deciscion, of some kind…

Grim