International Tour Partner Supports ACB

Travelex, the world's largest foreign exchange specialist and international tour partner of the Australian Cricket Board has backed the ACB's decision to cancel the planned Travelex Tour to Zimbabwe.

The Travelex Tour to Zimbabwe was due to commence on 11 April, following the completion of the current Travelex Tour of South Africa. The ACB announced today that advice from a variety of sources, including the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, had been taken into account in arriving at its decision to cancel the tour to Zimbabwe.

The ACB also announced its intention to work with the Zimbabwe Cricket Board to reschedule the Test and One Day matches planned for 2002 to be played within the next 2 years. While the rules of the International Cricket Council provide for matches in this situation to be played on neutral ground, that would not occur in this case.

Commenting on the decision to cancel the tour, Andrew Want, Managing Director Travelex Australasia Group, said that security of the Team is the major priority and the ACB has Travelex's full support in focussing on player safety as its only criteria.

"The Zimbabwe situation is regrettable, but we understand the ACB's reasons for this decision, and we are fully supportive of it.

The ACB has well-developed processes to deal with security sensitivities in countries the Team visits, and they've kept us closely informed of developments. As the Team's international tour partner, our interest is in ensuring the Team is safe and well, and the Travelex Group respects the ACB's judgement."

The Travelex Tour to South Africa has been an enormous success for the Australian Cricket Team which has maintained its mantle as Test Cricket champions, and with a 2-nil lead in the One Day International series against South Africa, is set to continue its domination as the number one cricket side in the world.

Andrew Want said "Travelex is the International Tour partner of the Australian Cricket Team for the next 5 years, and while we are disappointed the matches with Zimbabwe cannot proceed at this time, we are already looking forward to the continuation of our partnership with the team when they travel to Pakistan and Sri Lanka in 2002, and beyond that to the World Cup 2003. Travelex will still be around when the Team does eventually play Zimbabwe."