Mani denies ICC ignoring Zimbabwe race issues

Ehsan Mani: 'Racism in any form is unacceptable to the ICC' © Getty Images

Ehsan Mani, the ICC president, has denied that the ICC has ignored allegations of racism inside Zimbabwe Cricket and insisted the situation was being monitored.

Mani met with Peter Chingoka, the ZC chairman, in Karachi in January and, among other things, remarks made by the head of the Sports & Recreation Commission that the board has been cleared of whites and Asians because of their "racial connotations", were discussed.

"Racism in any form is unacceptable to the ICC," Mani told Cricinfo. "I raised this with Mr Chingoka in my meeting and he has undertaken to highlight ICC's concerns with the interim committee. I advised of him of the ICC's concerns over the absence of representation of the Asian and white communities on the interim board and asked that these should be addressed. "Issues of race must not get in the way of the rebuilding process and this was accepted by Mr Chingoka. I am aware that the interim board has made approaches to members of the two communities and I further note that Kevin Curran has been appointed the national team coach and Andy Pycroft has been appointed to look after the A team."

Asked whether the ICC could be assumed of sidestepping the issue, Mani was adamant that was not the case. "Clearly the ICC is not ignoring the issue of racism," he explained. "The ICC expects Mr Chingoka and the interim committee to address this in an open and transparent manner.

"Mr Chingoka will be expected to give a full update on this and other issues to the ICC executive board at its board meeting in March."