South African writers speak out against Zimbabwe

A group of 20 South African cricket journalists have lent their support to the London-based Cricket Writers' Club, and have written to Malcolm Speed, the chief executive of the ICC, to protest at the expulsion of two journalists from Zimbabwe during the current series against Sri Lanka.

Mihir Bose of the Daily Telegraph, and Telford Vice, who was covering the series for Reuters, were expelled after immigration officials claimed that they had incorrect paperwork. The Zimbabwe Cricket Union said that neither had submitted the necessary applications in time, and also in the case of Bose that his form had been wrongly completed.

But in a strongly-worded letter to the ICC, South Africa's leading cricket writers have described Zimbabwe's actions as "scandalous". The situation has led them to consider forming their own writers' guild, to enable them to respond more quickly in the future to issues that affect their interests.

"It is unacceptable that journalists should be prevented from carrying out their legitimate duties," read the letter. "In particular, the denial of accreditation to a South African-based journalist, Telford Vice, is scandalous. Vice has reported on numerous series in Zimbabwe and his credentials as a cricket journalist are beyond question."

The writers have also called on the ICC to curb Zimbabwe's imposition of a US$600 accreditation fee, which they say "has the effect of discouraging journalists from reporting on cricket tours that are not of special interest, which clearly is against the interests of the game and of the ICC."

The letter concludes: "It is our belief that the ICC should take vigorous action (a) to ensure that bona-fide cricket journalists are able to carry out their duties in Zimbabwe, and (b) to insist that the accreditation fee is waived for bona fide cricket journalists."

The letter was signed by the following South African cricket writers:

Ken Borland (Natal Witness, MWP Media)
Colin Bryden (Sunday Times)
Trevor Chesterfield (TheWicket.com)
Patrick Compton (Daily News)
Johann de Jager (Die Volksblad)
Michael Doman (Cape Argus)
Johan Esterhuizen (Rapport)
John Harrison (Diamond Fields Advertiser)
Stuart Hess (The Star, Saturday Star, Sunday Independent)
Iqbal Khan (Natal Mercury)
Keith Lane (Wisden Cricinfo RSA)
Neil Manthorp (MWP Media)
Peter Martin (Dispatch Media)
Kevin McCallum (The Star, Saturday Star, Sunday Independent)
Michael Owen-Smith (Cape Times)
Fergus Ryan (SA Press Association)
Mark Smit (Business Day)
Henk Steenkamp (Die Burger)
Trevor Stevens (The Citizen)
Telford Vice (MWP Media)