No ICC Charge for Olonga or Flower

The ICC's Technical Committee today considered the issue of the public statement issued by Zimbabwean Cricketers, Andy Flower and Henry Olonga, and the wearing of black arm bands by the same players during the ICC Cricket World Cup match against Namibia.

The matter was referred to the ICC Technical Committee by the Zimbabwe Cricket Union (ZCU), which suggested that the actions of the players brought the game into disrepute and sought to have it dealt with under the ICC's Code of Conduct.

After considering the issue, the Technical Committee decided that it was not appropriate for a charge to be laid under the Code.

While strongly stating that the ICC's position is that cricket should not be used as a vehicle through which to make political statements, the six member committee chaired by Malcolm Speed, did not find evidence to warrant a charge being laid against the pair.

"The ICC seeks at all times to avoid using cricket as a platform on which to advance political agendas and its very strong belief is that the players, officials and administrators within the game should refrain from doing the same. The Committee requested that the players stop wearing black arm bands to make political statements for the duration of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2003," said Mr Speed.

"There are enough people outside the sport seeking to achieve political ends through cricket for their own purposes, without the sport's participants contributing to this matter.

"In the case of Mr Flower and Mr Olonga, the players have blurred the lines between political issues and the sporting arena.

"While this is a principle that the ICC does not wish to see violated, it is also the case that there is no sound basis for finding that their actions have brought the game into disrepute and there is no charge that could be sustained under the ICC Code of Conduct."

In making its decision, the Technical Committee also recognized that the actions may impact on the contractual relationship between the ZCU and its players and noted that if any matter arose from this relationship it would up to the ZCU and the players to resolve.

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