Time to end this farce

[flanflinger]

After Zimbabwe have produced a team so poor it failed to beat Kenya in a five match series, and actually was bowled out by them for 69 in one game, you have to wonder how low things will go before the ICC actually end Zimbabwe's International Status altogether.

http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/20...03MAR2006.html

[Mongoose]

We've talked and talked about this on, FF. And sadly, we all know now where things stand, and where they are heading. Crickt in Zimbabwe is a very sick patient, and the doctor has his hand firmly round the patient's throat. I'd like to think the ICC should condemn the situation and kick Zimbabwe out, but the the ICC is a sporting rather than political institution, and won't invlove themselves. It's a difficult and sad situation, but the real losers are many unfortunate people in Zimbabwe. Sport becomes irrelevant whe people are starving in a land of many natural resources.

[flanflinger]

Originally Posted by Mongoose

but the the ICC is a sporting rather than political institution, .

I have always argued for their removal on political grounds - based on the fact that playing Cricket in a country when down the road people are starving, and the Government uses the Cricket as a political, is abhorrent.

But now there are valid Cricketing reasons - they can't put out an International team worthy of the name - (as well as the Political) so it's time for the ICC to act, based on Cricketing reasons, to omit Zimbabwe from all International Cricket!!

[butchering lee]

on the whole - i guess it doesn't matter to most. clearly those who live in zim can't afford or aren't interested enough (numberswise) anyway and those in the diaspora...well, as i said i've been frequenting a few zim forums and there are simply no threads on the sport sections about cricket. there was even one about "zim wrestling" but in the past few months the only thread i've seen on any of the forums was "thank you kevin curran(title)...for restoring white privilege..." got a couple of answers then slowly wound it's way into obscurity. i think there is a time to fight and a time to let go...


edit - another thread appeared to discuss selecting duffin as captain but ended up bemoaning the quality of players...

[Vrock]

I can not disagree with anything all of you have said. Clearly the problems are too big and they can't put out a side that is competetive against the top sides. I think things will get worse before they get better.

[Paoli]

I think I've started about twenty threads on this and my stance hasn't changed.

If we had a good enough team, then we should be playing. FF, if going to Zimbabwe is supporting the Mugabe regime, is touring India a support of the Caste System?

Is touring Bangladesh a support of the regime there, with many starving? And is touring Pakistan supporting the minority that embrace terrorism?

Since Mugabe hates white people, he gets a worse end of the stick than these guys. Though a schizophrenic who has turned the country to shizen and doesn't care for many people, there are other issues which don't get publicity.

But I agree the Zimbabwe situation is a unique one. The people are politically oppressed and I think the MDC should be listened to on this one.