So Where Does This Leave Zimbabwe Cricket?

You would have to be naive to think, in the 21st century at least, that politics and sport don't mix - they do, and unless the British Olympic Committee can find a way of self financing the 2012 games in London they will continue to do so. Since before Margaret Thatcher was made to look stupid over her boycott Moscow threats in 1980 politicians have tried to influence sporting matters for decades, think Basil D'olivera for example, and when politicians haven't had the guts to work through political solutions sporting events have taken place with serious consequences, in rugby union South Africa to New Zealand in 1972 and South African to England in 1970 for example.

It therefore seems good from the point of view of the individuals concerned but slightly bizarre when looked at in the bigger scheme of things that the England and Wales Cricket Board has cancelled Zimbabwe's 2009 tour because of continued political unrest. Once again a major decision concerning another countries internal politics has been left to a sporting organisation rather than the Government of the day. In this respect Mrs Thatcher was quite right to voice her displeasure of the old Soviet Union's involvement in Afghanistan but wrong to ask amateur sportsman to give up their chance of a lifetime because political methods had failed to make any impact in the Kremlin. And so the Labour Government puts pressure on the ECB to take action and not tour Zimbabwe or invite Zimbabwe cricket teams to tour the U.K.

Now one argument would follow along the lines that by denying the England team the chance to tour Zimbabwe the ECB is not allowing its cricketers to be put in a potentially embarrassing situation by having to shake hands with the murderer in charge of the country. That's fine, I have no problem with that, but what about stopping our athletes travelling to China? Don't be daft. The more serious, in sporting terms at least, is that this leaves Zimbabwe completely isolated.

Culture Secretary Andy Burnham sent a letter to the ECB clarifying Prime Minister Gordon Brown's views on the sanctions to be placed on Zimbabwe. "All bilateral arrangements are suspended with Zimbabwe Cricket with immediate effect," said the ECB.

Zimbabwe were set to play two Tests and three one-dayers in England next year, as well as the World Twenty20 in June. The ECB's stance follows the decision of Cricket South Africa (CSA) - traditionally one of Zimbabwe's supporters in cricket - to sever its bilateral links on Tuesday in the wake of the country's deepening political and economic turmoil. Again, there's a certain irony here that South Africa, whilst its politicians are reluctant to condemn the actions of Mugabe and his henchman, is taking a strong moral line against a sporting organisation.

Culture Secretary Andy Burnham explains his decision: "The ECB deplores the position in Zimbabwe and, like CSA, finds this untenable. We welcome the government's decision and share the government's concerns about the deteriorating situation and lack of human rights in Zimbabwe."

The Prime Minister told the House of Commons on Wednesday afternoon he wanted other cricket-playing countries to join the sporting boycott of Zimbabwe.
"We want to ensure that Zimbabwe do not tour England next year," Brown said during Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday. "We will call on other countries to join us in banning Zimbabwe."

Of course there are complications here, as there always is, and that is that unless Zimbabwe are suspended from the ICC next week, it still has the right to play to play international tournaments. the team cannot be stopped by the ECB from competing in the ICC World Twenty20 tournament, to be held in England after the planned Tests and one-day internationals. But if England bar Zimbabwe from touring, the ICC could prevent England from hosting the tournament, which the ECB and government were well aware of.