Calls for cricket ban increase

By Lance Guma
23 August 2005

British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw and Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell have written to the International Cricket Council asking for Zimbabwe to be kicked out of test cricket. Citing worsening human rights abuses, the two said it was inappropriate for cricket fixtures to be taking place under the prevailing conditions. The country has been at the centre of a controversy over the issue with various opponents from England, Australia and New Zealand objecting to tours to the country.

What has been worsening the impasse is the continued support of mainly Asian and Caribbean nations like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and the West Indies who seem to be resisting the expulsion of Zimbabwe. Instead of looking at the merits of the arguments, most of those involved have turned the controversy into a racial argument. pointing to the countries seeking Zimbabwe's expulsion as mainly English speaking. Observers point to the fact that those countries resisting expulsion have dubious human rights credentials themselves.

Amnesty International has just recently released secret footage from Zimbabwe revealing the plight of people made homeless by operation 'murambatsvina'. The crackdown has drawn severe international condemnation and made over a million people homeless.