As the voters went to the polls in Zimbabwe last Friday to select from a choice of one, it is unlikely that the fate of their national cricket team featured significantly in their concerns.
Many have been looking to South Africa either to intervene or as a route for escape. The rise of Jacob Zuma in the ranks of the ANC holds out an anticipation that is lacking from the lacklustre mediator Thabo Mbeki, but time is yet another shortage for this beleaguered people.
Despite Britain’s ambitions at leadership, pressure on Robert Mugabe is better suited coming from a neighbour and ally. That South Africa also appreciates the role of politics in sport gives credibility when considering cricketing sanctions that are lacking when it comes from an ex-colonial master.
Last week the South African cricket board broke from their traditional policy of support for African unity by suspending all agreements with the Zimbabwe Cricket Union until further notice.
The general situation in Zimbabwe means that they will no longer be invited to take part in South Africa’s domestic competitions, and development programmes will be suspended.
Following quickly on the Protea’s coattails, the English Cricket Board (ECB) announced that the government would deny Zimbabwe entry for next year’s proposed test series.
Secretary for Culture, Media, and Sport Andy Burnham justified the government’s instruction on the grounds that, "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."
So contrary to the ICC’s stance that a country’s politics should not affect its cricket team, the government have banned Zimbabwe on political grounds.
Seen initially as support for the South African position, it in fact goes beyond their actions. The Proteas have said that they will still honour the ICC’s Future Tours Programme regarding Zimbabwe, and so will play them at the international level, but not lower down.
Just what effect this will have on Zimbabwe is questionable. Burnham claims that the close links of Mugabe to the Zimbabwe cricket team had a bearing on the government’s decision.
As patron of the national side, Mugabe’s role is an egotistical one more than anything else. How much cricket he watches and follows is unknown.
Still, the British government must have been feeling very angry because in the same week they also removed his honorary knighthood!
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5 months ago
I'm interested to see how the ICC votes here. Very complicated when sport and politics mix.
5 months ago
Great article, Jon.
As a South African I am daily embarrassed and angered by the statements made and the continued support shown by our president Thabo Mbheki. In a purely political sense the world should be doing a whole lot more that 'Quiet diplomacy' to remove the most evil man in Africa since Idi Amin. However, I agree that a nation's politics shouldn't affect its sport but I see two possible solutions to this. One: no cricketing board should impose sanctions but fully support their players to choose to tour the troubled land or not purely as a personal choice. Secondly, strip Zimbabwe of their test and ODI status not because of the actions of mad Uncle Bob but rather because of their shockingly low performance levels. In the last MTN Domestic season here in SA they were regularly and soundly beaten by almost every regional team in SA. Test and ODI status shouldn't be a permanent staus awarded but one that is earned season by season. Perhaps this way we can minimise the 'Who cares tours' that have become all to common based on the performances of Bangladesh and more recently Zimbabwe. Bring on a league system!
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