New Zealand cancels cricket tour to Zimbabwe

By Tichaona Sibanda
15 March 2010

The New Zealand Cricket board has cancelled its team’s planned tour to Zimbabwe which had been set for June this year, because of the ‘unstable environment’ in the country.

Chief executive officer of NZC Justin Vaughan said he had advised Zimbabwe Cricket officials of the decision at an International Cricket Council meeting in Dubai last week. Reports from Wellington in New Zealand said Prime Minister John Key had also expressed concerns for the team’s safety.

Vaughan however suggested the series could be played at a neutral venue, possibly in June next year. This is the second year in row New Zealand has decided to postpone the tour originally scheduled for the middle of last year.

The NZC chief told journalists on Monday it was clear from recent discussions that their government’s assessment of the security situation in Zimbabwe had not changed from that of last year. The New Zealand government recommended that they postpone the tour of the three one-day internationals and play the series at a neutral venue, possibly in South Africa.

Three years ago, Zimbabwe rejected an offer for its cricket team to play Australia at a neutral venue. The Australian government had barred its national team from traveling to Zimbabwe for a scheduled three-match tour to protest against Robert Mugabe’s rule.

Early this month, Sports Minister David Coltart urged the New Zealand cricket team to fulfill its commitment and tour Zimbabwe in July. The cricket mad Coltart had also dismissed fears by New Zealand that touring Zimbabwe in July would be a health risk for its players.

Although cricket has recently mirrored the country’s political transformation with improvements on and off the field, the issue of tour boycotts by leading teams has yet to be addressed.

When he was sworn in as sports minister in February 2009 Coltart promised to investigate allegations of corruption and racism against the Zimbabwe cricket board and accusations that it had become nothing more than an extension of Mugabe’s regime.