New Zealand compensated for cancelled Zimbabwe tour

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) will receive NZ$406,000 as compensation from the government for the cancelled tour by Zimbabwe. The tour, originally planned for December, was called off after the government refused to grant visas to the Zimbabwe players, due to human rights violations in the country.

"We decided the tour was not appropriate given the Zimbabwean Government's continuing human rights abuses," Trevor Mallard, the sports minister, told the New Zealand Press Association. "The Labour-led Government made an important stand over this tour in order to send a strong message to Robert Mugabe's government over its appalling human rights record and continuing abuse of democratic principles."

Mallard added that NZC expressed concerns over the financial losses they would suffer with the tour being cancelled, and that the government felt it fair to compensate NZC immediately.

In January, the Zimbabwe board suspended the national team from playing Test cricket until early next year, due to their disappointing performances on the field. An ICC delegation is currently in the country to reassess the team's future as a Test playing nation.