MacGill pulls out of Zimbabwe tour

Stuart MacGill has pulled out of Australia's tour of Zimbabwe next month citing moral reasons. Before the selection meeting, he informed the selectors that he could not make the trip and maintain "a clear conscience". MacGill's decision will not be held against him in future Australian team selections.

MacGill said that he had spoken to the selectors prior to the meeting as he did not want to disrupt the selection process and the planning of the tour. In a statement made today, he admitted to have thought about it for a long period of time, before deciding to pull-out of the tour. " ... personally [I] do not believe the situation in Zimbabwe is such that I can tour at this stage. I don't have ambitions as an activist or political spokesman, and I don't want to influence anybody else because this is a personal matter based on my own feelings.

"I know plenty of Australian cricketers that I have played alongside who have thought long and hard about this issue and decided that they will tour Zimbabwe. It is a complex problem and I respect their decisions and wish them the best."

James Sutherland, the CEO of Cricket Australia, said that the board had always advised players to be available for selection, but those with personal concerns would not be forced to tour. "Our head of cricket operations, Michael Brown, and I, have had a number of group and individual discussions with players since and before the World Cup and the broad playing group, including a number who have personal concerns about the ethics and morality of playing in Zimbabwe."

Sutherland said that Cricket Australia understood that the Zimbabwe issue was of a very complex nature, but also felt that touring Zimbabwe would help "the continued development of cricket as a global sport.

"We go there to play cricket with other cricketers," he said, "to fulfil our obligations to world cricket through the ICC's future tours program, and for no other reason."

MacGill also voiced a similar opinion, when he said, "...[I] wish them [Zimbabwe] the best as they seek to develop the game in their country, and hope that at some stage in the not too distant future I can be part of that process."

MacGill concluded by saying that he does not wish to do any further interviews or make any more statements regarding the matter as "I get on with my life as a cricket player."