MPs round on the ECB

Almost 100 MPs rounded on the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) in Parliament last night, accusing it of "putting profit before principle" in allowing Zimbabwe's tour to go ahead.

The motion, supported by 94 MPs including 11 former Labour ministers, called on the government to up pressure to try and resolve the crisis in Zimbabwe. It also stated that the tour going ahead would "misleadingly suggest that the situation in Zimbabwe is getting back to normal." The MPs are angry that what they claim is a side picked by the regime of Robert Mugabe are being welcomed by the ECB.

But in a letter to today's Independent newspaper, Tim Lamb, chief executive of the ECB, denied that the Zimbabwean side is a politically-selected propaganda vehicle. "Contrary to what is alleged by the MPs, the Zimbabwean team - so we have been assured by the Zimbabwe Cricket Union - has in no way been "politically vetted"," he wrote. "The Zimbabwean players are no more 'ambassadors' for the Mugabe regime than the MPs who signed yesterday's letter are the foot-soldiers of Mr Blair.

"Politicians - more than anyone - should realise that the ECB cannot solve the problems of Zimbabwe," he continued. "There needs to be a political solution to a political problem and, as Amnesty International said only last week, cancelling the Zimbabwe cricket team's tour to England will have no impact whatsoever on the Mugabe regime. It will do no good. In fact, arguably, having them here will do far more good because it keeps the issue in the public eye."

Several of the MPs are expected to join demonstrations outside Lord's tomorrow on the first day of the first Test.