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Journalism of Courage
Zimbabwe Cricket Union (ZCU) chairman Peter Chingoka will try to persuade England to go ahead with their tour in October at a meeting at Lord’s on Tuesday. Chingoka and ZCU board member Ozias Bvute will attend an England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) management meeting called to discuss the controversial visit.
An ECB statement said no decision about the tour would be made on Tuesday and there would be no news conference. A report from ECB management board member Des Wilson this year said moral issues as well as security concerns should be taken into account when considering whether to go ahead with the Zimbabwe tour.
However, last month the ICC said any team failing to fulfil their tour obligations faced suspension from the international game and a $2 million fine unless there were legitimate safety or security concerns.
The ECB are expected to make a final decision next month after consulting government ministers. England refused to play in Zimbabwe in last year’s World Cup because of security fears. World champions Australia are also due to tour Zimbabwe this year.
Former Zimbabwe fast bowler Henry Olonga said that hardliners within the ZCU seemed to want Zimbabwe to field an all-black team. ‘‘The transition from a mainly white team to a mainly black or all black team can’t be achieved overnight, although this is what Bvute seems to want,’’ he told The Observer newspaper. ‘‘But apart from sending a message to the Mugabe government that they are an abhorrent regime, I don’t know what will change in the country if England stay away.’’
