Should Australia tour Zimbabwe?
Let's move from the controversy minefield of Gilchrist's squash ball to the more sedate and less volatile topic of Australia's tour of Zimbabwe. I'm never a big fan of politicians poking their unwanted noses in our sport, vainly trying to prove they're one of the people. If you want to see just how bad it can get, check out this footage of Australian Prime Minister John Howard attempting to bowl. He's not a cricket tragic, he's just tragic:
However, the current situation is a little more serious than a polly grubbing for a photo op. Australia's foreign minister Alexander Downer has called upon Australia to scrap the tour:
"My view is that the tour shouldn't go ahead and if it were to go ahead then Australia - which is after all the World Championship team - would give Zimbabwe's regime and its President, who has been the patron of Zimbabwe Cricket Association, a propaganda victory. We shouldn't do that. This is a horrific regime in Zimbabwe and we should take a stand against it."Of course, money talks and probably the #1 issue in Cricket Australia's mind is not human rights but the hefty ICC fine if they fail to turn up (a fine which would be pocket change to CA after the World Cup and Ashes windfalls). Even that's no longer an excuse as John Howard has offered to pony up the $1.6 million fine. I must concede it's a gutsy gesture from our government (although not enough after their record on Iraq and the environment to win back my vote). It reduces Cricket Australia's next move to a purely moral decision which makes things very interesting.
The usual justification for touring a place like Zimbabwe is to separate sport from politics. The only player to actually take a moral stand last time we toured was Stuart Macgill of all people. Now Macgilla Gorilla is a contrarian by nature but for once, I agree with him. Dictator Robert Mugabe is a nasty piece of work and to this very day engages in the abduction and torture of his political opponents. If it was me playing for Australia (I know, a crazy thought, although maybe with a squash ball...), I wouldn't be comfortable having any association with such a regime, giving them licence to claim "business as usual" or being seen as indirectly endorsing it by touring.
Of course, if you still insist on being a sporting purist, consider that Zimbabwe now ranks below Ireland. Nuff said!
| Posted by JC on Tue 8 May |  11 comments |
JC, good that u moved on to something else, But its hard to get rid of the provious discussion. One of my English collegues today made the comment that 'your WC win is not valid any more". I was disgusted, and I cant imagine how sub-continent people think of this when England supporters talk like that. So, Australian Board should step in to clear this and discuss openly with SL Board and ICC about it. If it need be, apologies should be made or even go further as a replay or announcing joint winners. If not, its too damaging and our status is hammered badly and we will have to live with an unaccepted win for next 4 years!
Posted by AK on 2007-05-08 12:49:37
Posted by AK on 2007-05-08 12:49:37
I noticed that, new blog post but all the new comments are still on Gilly's squash ball. A real can of worms there.
Posted by JC on 2007-05-08 12:50:41
Posted by JC on 2007-05-08 12:50:41
ah, light relief in the sight of our beloved PM trying to chuck one down Murali-style. Mind you, John Howard and yer average Aussie are complete strangers so this display of bad bowling is no surprise. The Grade 3-ers are better at it than him... and that probably goes for politics as well.
Anyhow, back to Gilly's grip...
Posted by virtualgaz on 2007-05-08 19:24:05
Anyhow, back to Gilly's grip...
Posted by virtualgaz on 2007-05-08 19:24:05
Australia continues to have diplomatic relations with Zimbabwe in spite of Mugabe's excesses.
CA had no qualms inviting Zimbabwe as the third nation in the tri series in 2003.
Hayden's record of 380 stands.
All of which happened when Mugabe's thugs were terrorizing everyone in sight.
All that has changed is the degree.
So tell me, how does playing Zim in Zim become a propaganda victory for Mugabe and playing Zim in Oz doesn't?
Educate me John, on the moral implications of touring Zimbabwe.
Posted by Homer on 2007-05-09 08:18:56
CA had no qualms inviting Zimbabwe as the third nation in the tri series in 2003.
Hayden's record of 380 stands.
All of which happened when Mugabe's thugs were terrorizing everyone in sight.
All that has changed is the degree.
So tell me, how does playing Zim in Zim become a propaganda victory for Mugabe and playing Zim in Oz doesn't?
Educate me John, on the moral implications of touring Zimbabwe.
Posted by Homer on 2007-05-09 08:18:56
Playing Zim in Oz is the same as playing Zim in Zim. The difference back then was the government didn't offer to pay the big fine if the tour didn't go ahead. The almighty bottom line is the final deciding factor in all Cricket Australia decisions.
It's perhaps a just result that Brian Lara broke Hayden's 380 record, against an English bowling attack featuring Flintoff, Harmison and Hoggard.
Posted by JC on 2007-05-09 10:53:17
It's perhaps a just result that Brian Lara broke Hayden's 380 record, against an English bowling attack featuring Flintoff, Harmison and Hoggard.
Posted by JC on 2007-05-09 10:53:17
my 2 cents worth:
1.Howard shouldn't be offering taxpayers money to reimburse CA. They have enough money as it is. I mean, how much does nine give them a year?
2.There should be a clause in the ICC rules that if a test country becomes an unjust society eg: (Zim, Apartheidt SA) you don't have to visit. Of course, the definition of unjust can be subjective but you could hardly find a sane person who would like to be in Zim at the moment.
Posted by mic on 2007-05-10 13:10:35
1.Howard shouldn't be offering taxpayers money to reimburse CA. They have enough money as it is. I mean, how much does nine give them a year?
2.There should be a clause in the ICC rules that if a test country becomes an unjust society eg: (Zim, Apartheidt SA) you don't have to visit. Of course, the definition of unjust can be subjective but you could hardly find a sane person who would like to be in Zim at the moment.
Posted by mic on 2007-05-10 13:10:35
Re Howard offering taxpayers money, well, in an ideal world, CA would more highly principled and be willing to absorb the ICC fine. What with the Ashes last year, Australia winning a couple of big tournaments, etc - they'd have to be flush with cash right now. But far be it from them to sacrifice their profits over something as little as a human rights violating dictator.
Re the ICC clause, ditto re an ideal world. Both the CA and the ICC should deal with this but they won't. So kudos to the government for stepping up to the plate. As an Aussie taxpayer, I don't mind that they're willing to spend my taxes on highlighting the Zimbabwe issue. I'd rather CA paid it or the ICC tweaked the rules but that ain't gonna happen.
Posted by JC on 2007-05-10 13:51:39
Re the ICC clause, ditto re an ideal world. Both the CA and the ICC should deal with this but they won't. So kudos to the government for stepping up to the plate. As an Aussie taxpayer, I don't mind that they're willing to spend my taxes on highlighting the Zimbabwe issue. I'd rather CA paid it or the ICC tweaked the rules but that ain't gonna happen.
Posted by JC on 2007-05-10 13:51:39
At least Australia is taking a stand, I am glad Australia is doing this. I guess having a large surplus helps.
Why Australia don't just ban all sporting contact with Zimbabwe I don't know. Probably some long winded reason, such as needed the UN to agree or something. If memory serves me right though, Australia has been the lead on trying to get diplomatic action on Zimbabwe such as getting them suspended or kicked out of the Commwealth.
Also I don't think you can be too hard on CA and the ICC, they made contracts, so they are obliged to follow through. Breaking a contract is a big deal whatever the reason. Our economy is based on contracts, so it should be considered a big deal and not rushed.
Posted by Andrew on 2007-05-10 14:13:32
Why Australia don't just ban all sporting contact with Zimbabwe I don't know. Probably some long winded reason, such as needed the UN to agree or something. If memory serves me right though, Australia has been the lead on trying to get diplomatic action on Zimbabwe such as getting them suspended or kicked out of the Commwealth.
Also I don't think you can be too hard on CA and the ICC, they made contracts, so they are obliged to follow through. Breaking a contract is a big deal whatever the reason. Our economy is based on contracts, so it should be considered a big deal and not rushed.
Posted by Andrew on 2007-05-10 14:13:32
Hi, regarding the Zimbabwe problem, I`d like the board members and players to read this, from a Zimbabwean perspective:
http://kubatanablogs.net/kubatana/?p=146
In my opinion, Australia SHOULD go to Zimbabwe. While there, I think they should all wear black armbands (as a couple of the Zimbabwean cricketers did, to signify 'Death of Democracy'). I also believe the team should engage in worthwhile causes while in Zimbabwe (outlined in the blog link above), and also let the Zimbabwean team win. This will highlight in the strongest possible way how Australia feel about the Mugabe regime.
If the Australian team are asked to leave Zimbabwe, then it is possible that YOU will receive money from the ICC.
If you refuse to play in Zimbabwe, then the $2mill for the Zimbabwean Cricket ppl will go into government and officials bank accounts.
So play, but make a strong statement while you are there. Just ask the Zimbabwean bloggers.
Posted by Gary Storm on 2007-05-11 12:45:26
http://kubatanablogs.net/kubatana/?p=146
In my opinion, Australia SHOULD go to Zimbabwe. While there, I think they should all wear black armbands (as a couple of the Zimbabwean cricketers did, to signify 'Death of Democracy'). I also believe the team should engage in worthwhile causes while in Zimbabwe (outlined in the blog link above), and also let the Zimbabwean team win. This will highlight in the strongest possible way how Australia feel about the Mugabe regime.
If the Australian team are asked to leave Zimbabwe, then it is possible that YOU will receive money from the ICC.
If you refuse to play in Zimbabwe, then the $2mill for the Zimbabwean Cricket ppl will go into government and officials bank accounts.
So play, but make a strong statement while you are there. Just ask the Zimbabwean bloggers.
Posted by Gary Storm on 2007-05-11 12:45:26
yer raise some great points our goverment has no idea
Posted by Ben Whiteside on 2007-05-30 12:00:43
Posted by Ben Whiteside on 2007-05-30 12:00:43
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