"Zimbabwe board accused of human rights abuse"

[adamberry]

http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/co...ry/278997.html

From Cricinfo:

three members of the Zimbabwe national side have been forced to shave their dreadlocks after being given an ultimatum by the Zimbabwe board to do so or be dropped.

Now, I don't want to get drawn into the politics of the matter (as most threads on Zimbabwe end up doing), but are Zimbabwe Cricket trying to humiliate themselves? The trio concerned are Dabengwa, Mpofu and Mupariwa, who are some of the more experienced (if not distinguished) players still available for selection. Imagine what would have happened had they refused to comply? Humiliation at the World Cup would have been a certainty.

Zimbabwe have more important things to worry over, would the most successful team (Australia) invoke such a demand? Of course not.

[Occasional Fan]

I for one would not be against the ECB directing its representatives to shave each day. (OK: this is, of course, barring religious objection which might come from some people, and also exempting those who choose to grow facial hair for cosmetic reasons. Those people should be given three weeks to produce a beard for inspection, then, if they fail, told to get rid of it. It works pretty well at keeping the Royal Navy looking a bit tidy. The failure of some of our cricketers to attend to basic daily hygiene is, I fear, symptomatic of poor discipline in general.)

[Mike]

Symonds trademarks are his customary dreadlocks, and his white zinc used on his bottom and top lips, no matter what the weather conditions (even when playing indoors). Source

Many top sportsman like David Beckham have their sporting image managed professionally to attract lucrative sponsorship deals. Should the ECB have told Pietersen not to wear his "skunk" hairdo? Should Cricket Australia tell Symonds to cut off his dreadlocks?

[Occasional Fan]

No and no. But the England team should shave. That's my only point. They'd never have appeared like this when Gillette was sponsoring domestic cricket tournaments!

[butchering lee]

Originally Posted by Mike

if you don't remove such obscene images from our forum i will write to the ZCB asking for new laws to be drawn up in parliament (it can be done with surprising speed) - resulting in your immediate arrest ... should you not refrain from bringing our forum into disrepute with your unsightly visual offerings!