ACB withdraws from 2002 Travelex Tour of Zimbabwe

The Australian Cricket Board (ACB) announced today that due to grave concerns over the safety and security of the Australian cricket team and team management it had been forced to withdraw from the up-coming tour of Zimbabwe.

ACB Chairman Bob Merriman said that advice received up until late yesterday afternoon from a number of government and non-government sources had clearly identified an increasing risk for the Australian team in Zimbabwe.

"The security of our people is our first priority and it is now clear that travelling to Zimbabwe would compromise their safety," Mr Merriman said.

"Given this situation, the ACB has now advised the Zimbabwe Cricket Union (ZCU) that the Australian cricket team is unable to travel to Zimbabwe in the current climate but that we are very keen to re-schedule the games in the next two years," he said.

"This is a decision that the ACB has deliberated on deeply and it is recognised that it will impact most on the cricket community within Zimbabwe. This is something that is deeply regretted.

"Nevertheless, the safety of the players and team management must take precedence and I hope that there are other initiatives that the ACB and the ZCU can adopt that will provide much needed support to the game in Zimbabwe."

In the lead up to this decision, the ACB has received daily briefings from a range of advisers on the situation in Zimbabwe and in particularly on the situation facing Australian cricketers since the suspension of the country from the Commonwealth.

"Our consistent position has been that the situation in Zimbabwe was under daily review to asses the risks for our people," said Mr Merriman.

"Over the last week, the advice we have received from our own security advisors, the High Commissioner in Zimbabwe, the Department of Foreign Affairs and from other sources within the country has clearly indicated that the situation is worsening for Australians in particular and that there are now real and unacceptable risks to our people should they travel to Zimbabwe."