England set to tour Zimbabwe
England's controversial tour of Zimbabwe later this year is all set to go on as scheduled
Wisden Cricinfo staff
01-May-2004
 |
|
This is a significant softening of stand on the part of the government, who only a year ago objected to England playing a World Cup match at Harare. The letter in question was thrashed out between Straw's advisors and Tim Lamb, the chief executive of the ECB.
The Guardian newspaper quoted Straw's letter in a report. "I do not like the idea of an England team touring Zimbabwe any more than you do, but I do not believe that the future of English cricket should be put in jeopardy as a result of the failure of others to acknowledge the appalling situation there.
"We fully understand the very difficult decision the ECB has to take, particularly in the light of the ICC's meeting in March. This meeting appears to have given the ECB a choice between a tour which is difficult to defend on moral grounds and financial penalties which might bankrupt the game."
If England were to withdraw from the tour they could be fined or suspended by the ICC, as the only grounds for pulling out are safety concerns or a clear direction from the government. Straw has stated in his letter that the government will not provide that clear direction as it does not have the legal power to prevent the team from touring.
"There is no evidence that any ministerial statement would be sufficient for the International Cricket Council to allow the ECB to postpone the tour," writes Straw. "In those circumstances, I do not believe it would be right that the British taxpayer should have to carry the financial liability which could flow from cancellation of the tour."
This letter strengthens the position the ECB has taken over the last few weeks. The ECB has said it was reluctant to tour, but was powerless to withdraw from the tour in the light of ICC regulations.