ICC Cricket

It will take seven countries to vote for Zimbabwe’s expulsion for it to occur but David Morgan, the president-elect of the ICC, admitted it was a strong possibility and said: “I am sure that will be in the minds of many of the delegates. I think there is every chance that it could happen, but it would be a very difficult decision.”

He added: “I reminded myself of a meeting of executive board just a year ago when the subject of how member countries are governed was on the table.”The executive board decided by a substantial majority that politics and cricket should not mix. For matters to move forward there will have to be a change in that regard.”

Although the government’s correspondence with ECB chairman Giles Clarke stopped short of banning the Zimbabweans from participating in the 2009 ICC World Twenty20, the inference is that there will be such an intervention if the ICC does not act first.”The ECB deplores the position in Zimbabwe and, like Cricket South Africa, finds this untenable,” the ECB 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.”