Post by Steve Gardner on Jun 25, 2008 13:33:17 GMT
Again the age-old question of whether politics and sport should mix has risen to the surface.
Previously, the ECB has felt unable to exercise its own judgement and has looked to government for instruction. Until now, this has not been forthcoming. This time, however, the British government has effectively told the ECB to sever ties with Zimbabwe, making the ECB's decision pretty easy.
The question is: should politics and sport mix? And, if you believe it should, then should the ECB have acted independent of any government advice?
Source: Sporting Life
Previously, the ECB has felt unable to exercise its own judgement and has looked to government for instruction. Until now, this has not been forthcoming. This time, however, the British government has effectively told the ECB to sever ties with Zimbabwe, making the ECB's decision pretty easy.
The question is: should politics and sport mix? And, if you believe it should, then should the ECB have acted independent of any government advice?
Source: Sporting Life
The England and Wales Cricket Board have officially severed ties with Zimbabwe Cricket after the Government "concluded that it would not be right to allow the proposed tour (to England) by Zimbabwe Cricket in 2009 to take place".
Having receiving a letter from Andy Burnham, minister for Culture, Media and Sport, outlining the governmental position, the ECB released a statement which confirmed they were suspending bilateral arrangements with the African country, following the lead of South Africa earlier this week.
"The ECB deplores the position in Zimbabwe and, like Cricket South Africa, finds this untenable," the statement read. "Therefore all bilateral arrangements are suspended with Zimbabwe Cricket with immediate effect.
"The Government has written to the ECB and has made a clear instruction that Zimbabwe's bilateral tour scheduled under the ICC Future Tours Programme for 2009 should be cancelled.
"The ECB, who have been in constructive and extensive dialogue with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport for some time, welcome the Government's decision and share the Government's concerns about the deteriorating situation and lack of human rights in Zimbabwe."
Prime Minister Gordon Brown said the Government was taking steps to ensure the Zimbabwe tour does not go ahead.
The Prime Minister also urged other countries to join Britain in calling for Zimbabwe to be banned from the ICC World Twenty20 which is also being held in England.
"We want to ensure that Zimbabwe does not tour England next year. We will call for other countries to join us in banning Zimbabwe from the Twenty20 tournament," he told MPs at Prime Minister's Questions.
England will now look for other opponents in place of the Zimbabweans, who were due to tour before the 20-over tournament next summer.
One option would be to ask Bangladesh to bring their planned 2010 series forward a year while Sri Lanka and Pakistan would be other possible opponents.
Burnham has also sent a letter to ECB chairman Giles Clarke outlining the Government's view it would not be right to allow the tour to proceed.
"The Zimbabwean Government has ceased to observe the principle of the rule of law: it has terrorised its own citizens, including the ruthless and violent suppression of legitimate political opposition," Burnham wrote.
"The UK Government will always work with the international community to uphold fundamental freedoms and human rights.
"Accordingly, the UK Government has responded with a measured approach which seeks to isolate Zimbabwe internationally and bring pressure to bear on supranational institutions such as the United Nations and European Union to take yet firmer action against the despotic regime, whilst ensuring that its humanitarian life-saving mission to Zimbabwean citizens continues."
Burnham continued: "The UK Government considers it would be contrary to this general approach for the English cricket team to participate in bilateral fixtures with Zimbabwe.
"The close ties of the Zimbabwe cricket team to the Mugabe regime have also had a bearing on our decision.
"I can assure you this is not a decision we have taken lightly. The Government strongly defends the autonomy of our sports' governing bodies. We also support the autonomous management of international sporting competitions by international sports federations and independent representation of British sporting interests on such federations by our national governing bodies.
"This decision on Zimbabwe does not alter that general position, but it is made in response to the exceptional circumstances in this case."
