ECB face political pressure over Zimbabwe

England's cricket authorities are being forced to walk a tightrope to avoid being sucked into a political storm over the World Cup match scheduled to be played in Harare against Zimbabwe on February 13th. Nevertheless, with senior government figures realising that once again sport can be used for political ends, the dangers for cricket become all too obvious.

While there is growing international outrage at the policies and behaviour of Zimbabwe's president, Robert Mugabe, no attempt was made to stop England playing a series of one-day internationals in the country as recently as last year. Now, however, politicians appreciate that an event with the profile of the World Cup offers a far more prominent stage on which to make a statement.

Aware of the problems, the ICC sent a fact-finding delegation to Zimbabwe, including the countries that are scheduled to play World Cup matches there. The result was that they all signed up to continue with arrangements as they stood on the grounds of safety and security with the proviso that the ICC would monitor the situation in case of any deterioration.

The chief executive of the ICC, Malcolm Speed, has reiterated that those circumstances remain, despite increased political activity in the UK.

"We've talked to the ECB about this," he said. "The decision is that if England doesn't play because of political considerations, they will not receive any points from that match, in effect they will forfeit that match. If the situation deteriorated and it was unsafe for England to play, the points will be shared.

"I don't see it so much as a moral dilemma. A decision has been taken by the ICC board that the only factor to take into account is safety. We've done that, we've assessed the situation in Zimbabwe with regards safety and we've resolved to move forward.

"There have been a number of comments from members of the British government. What we've said consistently is that it's up to the politicians to make political decisions, we make our decisions based on sporting factors and we've done that.

"We've made our decision and the ECB have said, that from England's perspective, they will abide by that decision, so hopefully we can move forward.

"We can only make our decision based on cricketing considerations and sporting considerations. We have 84 member countries that come under all sorts of political regimes. We're aware of the political difficulties, we're aware of the economic difficulties, but they're factors that we don't take into account."

Speed's comments come after Downing Street and the Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, commented on remarks made by Clare Short, the International Development Secretary. She said that England should refuse to play in Harare, adding that a decision to go would be "deplorable and shocking."

"An election has been stolen and people are being starved because they dared to vote freely," she said. "I think they should not go. It is like pretending everything is OK in Zimbabwe and it is not."

A spokesman from Number 10 said: "We have no power to order a team not to go. It is up to them but our advice is that they should not go."

A statement from the Foreign Office explained Mr Straw's view. "While it is not for us to tell the International Cricket Council or the England and Wales Cricket Board what to do, it is Mr Straw's personal view that it would be better if England didn't go.

"We ask the cricketing authorities to reflect on the humanitarian and political crisis that is happening in Zimbabwe and the fact that the situation could deteriorate over the coming weeks."

Interestingly, chairman of the England selectors, David Graveney, has stated that he would refuse to go if he was asked to play in Zimbabwe. This is even though he managed a rebel tour to South Africa during the apartheid years.

The chief executive of the ECB, Tim Lamb, has made his stance quite clear. "We don't believe it's our position as a sporting body to make political judgements about the appropriateness of regimes in host countries for playing cricket.

"Cricket is a soft target and is being treated differently to the 300 other businesses which continue to trade with Zimbabwe which ministers aren't discouraging. There are some double standards here."

Writing on the subject in his Sunday Telegraph diary, England captain Nasser Hussain takes a line that would not disgrace professional politicians. "It must be right that the decision is made at a higher level than sport, by a government body.

"Even if it means that England will forfeit points by not playing in Zimbabwe, that would be willingly done if the Government believes it right that England should not play.

"Cricket, and qualifying for the Super Six stage of the World Cup, comes a long way down the list of what is important, especially compared with people starving.

"Such a government body was needed last winter, it is needed now and it will be needed again as there are sure to be similar situations which come up in future."