With the situation in Zimbabwe worsening every day, the game of cricket has a decision to make regarding Zimbabwe. The line so far that has been adpoted by some of the countries on the ICC has been one of sports and poliics should not mix. Well is the situation in Zimbabwe really about politics anymore? Surely we are in the territory of a humanitarian catostrophe, all brought about by the man who is also patron of the Zimbabwaen Cricket Council. When we look at the overall situation surely there is little choice but to ban or suspend Zimbabwe from the ICC until they get their country in order.
Of course in order for this to happen it will need the support of countries like South Africa and India, which have traditionally backed the ZCC and by doing so been de facto condoning the instransingient Mugabe. South Africa have made noises that they will not be backing the ZCC, so it comes down to what India will do. For once I hope that the BCCI behaves with a sense of morality and does the right thing, which is so blindingly obvious that even a 3 year old would be able to come to grips with the right decision. However lets be honest - the BCCI is such a morally bankrupt and corrupt body that they will do only that which puts more money in their coffers. What can we expect from a body that probably does not even take any joy from following the game anymore but their only purpose seems to be the pursuit of the almighty dollar. Still I hope they prove me wrong and have the courage to take the right stance.
5 responses so far ↓
1 Shoaib // Jun 26, 2008 at 8:20 pm
Interesting piece Spin.
I just feel that if the banning of ZIM from the international cricketing fraternity was to have any effect on it’s barbaric and illegitimate ruler and his cronies, it should have been done some years ago.
Banning Zimbabwe right now will have little or no effect on the ground reality of that Country as Mugabe as of this moment does not give a damn about anything other than holding on to power as long as he could. We are dealing with a mad man who has gone to the extent of stating that ‘Only God can remove him from power’ In that context what impact if any could the banning of ZIM from the international cricketing community have on him and his cronies??? IMO absolutely zilch!
Zimbabwe IMHO is another classic case of double standards that we have seen from the international community and all that we have seen thus far from them is cheap rhetoric and little else of substance. All this while the innocent men, women and children have been murdered and are starving to death.
So IMO the banning or more appropriately the banishing of ZIM from international cricket at this juncture is inconsequential particularly given the timing of such action.
2 admin // Jun 26, 2008 at 8:56 pm
IS You are 100% right that any ban at this point would be inconsequential, especially as you point out mad Mugabe feels that only god can remove him.
However a ban would serve the purpose of removing what is a stain on the collective conscience of world cricket.
3 YingYangTwins // Jun 27, 2008 at 1:58 am
I personally think we should not mix politics and sports together. The people of Zimbabwe are going through hell and in such times a simple game could help bring them together, create a unity and pride in them and a surprising ZIM win will bring joy to the people which no dictator can take from them.
Why punish ZIM cricketers for the wrong doing of the government? Also what difference is it going to make to the government or Mugabe if ICC bans ZIM…. no difference whatsoever. Mugabe is not going to sweat just because ICC, ECB, CA or SA cuts ties with them.
Don’t take action against ZIM cricket, don’t punish ZIM cricketers and its fans because of their government!!
4 I Slam // Jun 27, 2008 at 5:06 pm
YYT and other posters…. what are the restrictions placed by ,generally,most countries against zim ?
5 Mark Stoneman // Jun 29, 2008 at 9:19 pm
As an American, I’m ignorant of cricket. That said, while I do not think that any decision to use sports for political leverage should be made lightly, I do feel that this particular situation is too extreme to ignore.
Moreover, given the way Zimbabwe works, I have to wonder to what extent some of the players might be implicated in Mugabe’s regime anyway.
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