The ICC and the NZ Cricket tour to Zimbabwe

Yes, ICC should get with the time. It is no longer appropriate to be associated with countries with regimes like Mugabe's.

Just read that the fine levied by the ICC would have been $2 million US if the tour had not gone ahead. There is a 10 year playing plan that seesm to be totally inflexible. All comes down to profits I guess.

It seems no lessons at all have been learnt from the England tour debacle. At least England players were allowed to withdraw for the sake of their conscience - Steve Harmison was one of those.

Cheers,

Jon

NZ Govt has just announced that Zimbabwe Cricket team will not be issued Visa’s to tour NZ. Excellent. I hope Mugabe retaliate and stop NZ touring Zimbabwe.

Both parties (NZ Govt and the NZ Cricket Council) are in a very difficult position. The govt cannot declare that players cannot leave the country as that would be totalitarian - the Cricket Council cannot breach the ICC rules as the $2M USD fine would be only the beginning - the Council would also be liable for losses that Zimbabwe suffered as a result of the tour not taking place.

The ICC should do something. That they don't stinks to high heaven. Consistent with the dodgy new rules on the difference between a throwing action and a bowling action - which was all about money in the end.

quote:

Originally posted by Deane F:
The ICC should do something. That they don't stinks to high heaven.

YEAH!

IMO the New Zealand players should boycot and refuse to play, they should be supported by all other players in the competition, there would be no cricket anywhere The ICC would be forced to resign, their "money above morals" attitude would put themselves out of a cushy job.

Cricketers are paid to play cricket.
Their employer has a contract to provide cricketers.
End of story.

The GOVT SHOULD COMPENSATE THEM

quote:

Originally posted by Berlin Fritz:
The GOVT SHOULD COMPENSATE THEM

But the compensation wouldn't end at the fine levied by the ICC. The Zimbabweans could claim for whatever profits they felt were lost as a result of the tour not going ahead. And the New Zealand Government and the taxpayers should not have to compensate the ICC for forcing the New Zealanders into this position. It is a problem that the ICC could and should solve.

I mean't compensate the Kiwis etc, & the Zimbabwiians should get absolutely nothing (as hard as this sounds) it's the only way to stop it.


The ICC can get fucked on this one I reckon:

Fritz Von You can start a new Council, and be damned with them if they don't want to budge a millimeter

"cricketers are paid to play cricket and their employer has a contract to provide players
end of story"

Many employees with moral fibre and balls will tell there employees where to go when asked to paticipate in something unjust.
If enough of them do, the poor employer(ICC), will be unable to fulfill its contract and will possibly go broke.

Then another group of businessmen will step in to take their place but will have learned from the mistakes of the past.
This is the slow process of how human rights are established, when people have the courage to make a stand even though they will be financially worse off, but hey, dont let thoughts of those freezing homeless destitute people get in way of you putting your feet up and enjoying the cricket, and spare a thought for those overworked ICC bods as they sit in the coporate box enjoying the nosebag. If you are fan you are paying for it.
they arent getting any more of my money, end of story

Hear Hear John

Grant Crowe, now that sounds a good Kiwi name.

<rant>
The problem is that cricket is not a normal marketplace. If you quit the job you can't go and work for the competitors.

In Holland there have been a few instances of conscience votes on these matters but they occurred on occasions where players did not risk their livelyhood.

eg In 1978 the second eleven went to the world cup in Argetina in protest to the practices of the military regime there.

in 1956 some athletes boycotted the Melbourne olympics in protest to the soviet occupation of Hungary.

The ICC has to look after the interests of cricket. No matter how much we loath the organisation we can't expect them to boycott their own events.

A sports boycott is in protest to political events (or to events instigated by politicians). So a boycott has to be organised by politicians. In our sports mad commonwealth a sports boycott would be a usefull tool perhaps as a first step to sanctions. From a politicians point of view it would certainly create the illusion at home that they are doing something.

Imho a boycott should be called for at the next CHOGM or sooner if possible.

<rant off>

While we ponder and debate here, the genocide continues. More house just demolished by Mugabe.

Cannot believe the ICC cannot see this as not sport but peoples life.

Boyctts won't be called by any of the sporting organisations. FIFA had a world cup in the Argentine dictatorship, the IOC had Olympics in Nazi Germany and now one coming up in China. You can't expect the ICC to break the trend.

Sports boycotts have to be called by politicians.

Gus

Lots to look forward to. Olympics in China ,also well known for its good taste in human relations.

Pressure is mounting to not go to Zimbawe. Might amount to nothing due to the apathy of the current government. Roll on the election and lets kick some stale/useless butts.

If the government does nothing, an alternative would be to lobby the sponsors. Do they really want to be seen to support this tour?

In the end it is all about money and not cricket

I remember that there where some quite effective campaigns against SA produce in the 70's. Not sure how you set it up. Probably a website to start with and then get publicity, perhaps a stunt followed by hitting all the local radio and TV stations...


Gus

Good to see Perth putting it's two-Pennyworth in mate.



Fritz Von Acapulco Annies on the Labouchere Road was one of the best restaurant experiences I've ever enjoyed, Is it still there I wonder ? if so say hello to Brad, mention my name and you'll probably get treated very 'differently' to how you usually do, innit