Speed and Mani hit back at critics

Ehsan Mani and Malcolm Speed: 'The simplistic view expressed by some is that it is time for the ICC to roll up its sleeves, flex its muscles and get in and fix it' © AFP

The ICC has launched a spirited defence of its handling of the Zimbabwe crisis in the light of recent criticism.

In a joint statement made exclusively to Cricinfo, Ehsan Mani, the ICC's president, and Malcolm Speed, the chief executive, said that it was understandable that there was disquiet over issues in Zimbabwe, adding: "These are concerns that are shared by the ICC."

They continued: "Strong opinions from many stakeholders have been expressed in opposition to the stance the ICC has taken on Zimbabwe. No doubt the ICC could become more popular with many more people if it adopted a more strident position against Zimbabwe but such a role would do little to find a solution to this complex issue.

"The simplistic view expressed by some is that it is time for the ICC to roll up its sleeves, flex its muscles and get in and 'fix it' - although how this is to be achieved is left, not surprisingly, vague. In reality, if Zimbabwe is to reunite its fractured cricket community, the only lasting solution will come from within the Zimbabwe cricket community."

Speed and Mani went on to say that the ICC had repeatedly offered Zimbabwe's stakeholders assistance but that its powers were limited. "The idea that the ICC can simply walk in and 'take over' one of our members is quite simply a nonsense.

"In recent times, there have been threats of a players' strike in Australia; complicated television issues that have cost the game millions of dollars and disputed Board elections in India; a players' strike in New Zealand and the sacking and replacement of Boards by governments in Sri Lanka and Pakistan, but no-one has seriously suggested that the ICC should unilaterally intervene to "fix it" in these cases and rightly so.

"The ICC is well aware of the arguments against its stance and respects the rights of its stakeholders to take and express other opinions on the best way to resolve these difficult issues affecting Zimbabwe cricket.

"What is more difficult to respect are the attempts by some people to link issues that are not joined, to use rhetoric ahead of reason, and to advance extreme positions at the expense of striking a balanced view. This may play well to their audience, attract media attention and perhaps give some people the public profile they crave but populism doesn't equal progress.

"The truth is that what is happening is Zimbabwe is of great concern to the ICC but those who are arguing for the unilateral intervention of the ICC without the support of all the stakeholders in the game are failing to properly understand the process that is needed to make progress or the challenges that cricket faces in Zimbabwe."

The statement concluded by saying that the ICC was monitoring developments inside Zimbabwe and "has made its concerns clear to the sport's stakeholders in Zimbabwe as well as the risks that are being run if they fail to find a solution.

"No doubt the ICC's policy on this issue will continue to attract much criticism, but it is a policy which in the ICC's judgment provides the greatest opportunity for cricket in Zimbabwe to survive the crisis it currently faces."