Blair says don't tour

[Occasional Fan]

All right, Scott! I don't know about you, but I'm not a lawyer. Maybe for the good of all users of the board, we'd better move on to something else. We both know we're boycotting Zimbabwe. Others will doubtless make their own decisions.

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Occasional Fan

All right, Scott! I don't know about you, but I'm not a lawyer. Maybe for the good of all users of the board, we'd better move on to something else. We both know we're boycotting Zimbabwe. Others will doubtless make their own decisions.

Just Before you move on,how do you both KNOW were boycotting Zimbabwe?I for one am going to recieve advice from my mp,the possition will become clear through my e mail box.

[Occasional Fan]

Sorry, Ernest: you may have misunderstood. "We" in this context are Scott and me. We've been swapping comments on this for a while and neither of us is going. Don't know about anyone else.

[Scott-Wozniak]

Originally Posted by Occasional Fan

All right, Scott! I don't know about you, but I'm not a lawyer. Maybe for the good of all users of the board, we'd better move on to something else. We both know we're boycotting Zimbabwe. Others will doubtless make their own decisions.

OF

I just want to say one more thing on this before I move on.

You did get me thinking about this, and so I did a little digging to try and fill in some of the gaps that I didn't have any answers to - namely the aspect of why this government is reluctant to do anything about the Zimbabwe situation.

I think our viewpoints here are somewhat reflective of how we feel about politicians and governments generally, personally I don't trust politicans futher than I can boot them, they're masters of their own survival and rarely ever make decisions that will benefit anyone but themselves - I think this one is a classic example of that.

Nevertheless I took a look on the ICC Website and had a look some of their recent press releases on the Zimbabwe situation and came across one that pretty much encapsulates this whole situation. Forgive me for the length of it but I do think it's an interesting read. Now do you see wht I mean about why this government is reluctant to do anything about our Cricketers touring Zimbabwe? There are (in their minds) far more important things at stake.

Scott



Blair attempting to escape scrutiny over his inaction - ICC
ICC Media Release - May 5, 2004
------------------------------------------------------------------------

The International Cricket Council today rejected Tony Blair's attempt to escape scrutiny over his government's policy towards Zimbabwe by pressuring the ICC to make a political decision.

ICC President Ehsan Mani said that it was no surprise that a politician would take this course.

"It is disappointing but unsurprising that a politician should attempt to shift the blame in this way.

"Mr Blair is seeking to divert attention away from his own inaction in dealing with Zimbabwe by attempting to exert inappropriate pressure on an international sporting body to make a political decision.

"At no stage has he or any of his people sought to get the facts on this matter from the ICC.

"It is difficult to accept the proposition that the ICC should be making a special case for England when not even the England and Wales Cricket Board has attempted to argue that it be exempted from its promise to tour Zimbabwe unless it is unsafe to do so.

"Unfortunately, the one consistent aspect of Mr Blair's approach to Zimbabwe has been its inconsistency.

"His government maintains diplomatic links with Zimbabwe, allows British companies to invest heavily in and trade openly with Zimbabwe, and welcomes athletes representing Zimbabwe to the UK.

"Given that this issue has been on his radar for more than 18 months it appears that his intransigence on Zimbabwe is now linked in some way to his overwhelming desire to secure the Olympics for London."

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Occasional Fan

Sorry, Ernest: you may have misunderstood. "We" in this context are Scott and me. We've been swapping comments on this for a while and neither of us is going. Don't know about anyone else.

No I did understand you ment( we ) in the context of you and scott,what I was saying was how do you and Scott both know we we`re boycotting Zimbabwe.(We`re) in this context means the country at large,and the ECB in paticulare.

Dont know how I got my head round that one O H,spent the most boring afternoon at a place called Bygone Times,in Eccleston Lancs.

[Kirsty Harris]

Dont know how I got my head round that one O H,spent the most boring afternoon at a place called Bygone Times,in Eccleston Lancs.[/quote]
Ernest,

At least you weren't at work, having to deal with bloody idiotic staff who are totally and utterly useless, like I did!!!

[Ernest]

Ernest,

At least you weren't at work, having to deal with bloody idiotic staff who are totally and utterly useless, like I did!!![/quote]
Hmmm close run thing.I once had 15 lads on work experience,and I landed it,so i know what you mean,and some of the older ones wrere likw kids as well.

Your home now Kirsty chill!!!!

[Kirsty Harris]

Ernest

Alas, I may be home now, but I'm on-call, so anything could happen!!!

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Kirsty Harris

Ernest

Alas, I may be home now, but I'm on-call, so anything could happen!!!

Well lets hope it does not,did not sound like you had a good day.

[Ernest]

[quote=Scott-Wozniak

Blair attempting to escape scrutiny over his inaction - ICC
ICC Media Release - May 5, 2004
------------------------------------------------------------------------

The International Cricket Council today rejected Tony Blair's attempt to escape scrutiny over his government's policy towards Zimbabwe by pressuring the ICC to make a political decision.

ICC President Ehsan Mani said that it was no surprise that a politician would take this course.

"It is disappointing but unsurprising that a politician should attempt to shift the blame in this way.

"Mr Blair is seeking to divert attention away from his own inaction in dealing with Zimbabwe by attempting to exert inappropriate pressure on an international sporting body to make a political decision.

[/QUOTE]
I have just read the same document,the whole thing stinks.

The ICC are saying ,that the ECB has not attempted to argue that it should be exempted on the grounds that it would be unsafe to tour Zimbabwe.
so the ECB has not done its job,you have dealt with Blair so there is no point in me going down that road.In saying this the ICC has intimated that it would listen to a case for the tour to be called of on safety grounds.

Had you clicked on the jack Straw link 6th may 2004,Wisden cricinfo staff.

Jack Straw made it clear in talks with the ECB,the government would not intervene in this row.he went on to say,the government is in no position to cancel the tour,and that the government was in no position to dictate to the ECB.