According to the news this morning, the question of whether Zimbabwe should be banned from international cricket was not even raised at the ICC meeting in London. TVNZ quotes ICC chairman Ehsan Mani as saying:
"The question was not raised by anyone, so there's no need to discuss it," Mr Mani said."The (Australian, New Zealand and British governments) have not got together, and our policy is our policy.
I think someone owes us an explanation - and not just Phil Goff, but also Cricket NZ chairman Martin Sneddon. And while we're at it, perhaps the Black Caps' chief sponsor, the National Bank, could front up and tell us why they are continuing to support a team and a sport which shows so little regard for human rights. According to the Herald this morning, they've said that they "continue to have faith in New Zealand Cricket to make appropriate decisions on this matter". But its fairly clear that NZ Cricket is not making appropriate decisions - and that this is now placing their sponsor's good name at risk. Shouldn't National Bank therefore withdraw its sponsorship?
The problem is if NZC doesnt go then they pay US$2m fine to the ICC who then pay some of this to Zim Cricket Council whose patron is Wait for it A certain Robert Mugabe .Zim Cricket Council can sue NZC for the losses they face and in an NZ Court will win Ive written to the President of the ICC politely requesting that they allow NZC to withdraw but they wont No way do I want my taxes going to Mugabe which will happen if the government cough up the fine The real problem is the ICC like the IRB and other sports bodies are political and have too much power MOre than countries
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NZC would not have to pay any fine if the ICC barred Zimbabwe from international cricket. But they don't even seem to have asked. I think its appropriate at this stage to question their sincerity about whether they don't want to go or not.
ReplyDeleteI think its also appropriate to inform them that touring will also have economic costs, in that sponsors may be unwilling to see their brand tarnished by association with the Mugabe regime, and may pull their funding in response.
See Richard Boocks excellent piece on the Hearld website in Sport He explains how the power base of the ICC is now nonwhite and that white countries like us are being paid back and punished If the BCs dont tour they will be thrown out of international cricket and so will the Poms and the Ozzies if they support us the ICC like the IRB are a bunch of thugs
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