Sibanda urges Australia to tour

Vusi Sibanda has urged Cricket Australia to honour its commitment to Zimbabwe in fulfilling its scheduled three-match ODI tour in September. Sibanda, the Zimbabwe opening batsman, said Zimbabwe can ill-afford Australia to withdraw from their tour even though they appreciate the sensitive political situation CA is confronting.

Sibanda, who is based in Sydney, asked Australia's players to tour in order to assist the development of the game in his homeland. Sibanda told the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper: "The players obviously have no control, so it would be pretty sad if the Australians didn't come, I certainly hope that they do play. We need to challenge ourselves against the best in the world if we are to improve, and the Australians are the best there is."

Following the exodus of Heath Streak, Tatenda Taibu, Andy Blignaut and the Flower brothers in recent years, Sibanda, although only 23, is seen as one of Zimbabwe's senior players.

Australia's foreign minister Alexander Downer is scheduled to meet senior CA officials on Thursday to discuss whether the country has a moral obligation to tour. Earlier this week, he said: "Normally, I'm not a great fan of bringing politics into sport, But in this particular case I think it is appropriate we should take a very (tough) stand against Mugabe's regime and do our best to stop the cricketers."

The Australian government and board officials will meet John Howard, the prime minister, on Thursday to discuss the tour. Howard is a strong critic of the regime of Zimbabwe's president Robert Mugabe and he has said in recent times that his government is prepared to pay fines which are likely to be imposed by the ICC should Australia decide not to go ahead with the tour.

There remains confusion over Sibanda's future. After going on record as saying he would not play for Zimbabwe again, he has recently contradicted this. There is, however, speculation this may be connected with the fact he has not paid his World Cup money yet by the Zimbabwe board.