The ICC needs to be 'more like FIFA'

On Friday we published an article criticising the ICC for its inability to tackle the crisis in Zimbabwe as well as a statement from Malcolm Speed, the ICC chief executive, and Ehsan Mani, the president, explaining their position. We asked you for your comments and here are a selection. Please click here if you want to send us your views

The ICC's stance on the Zimbabwe fiasco is quite absurd. But the reality is that Zimbabwe, even being a full-member, is not a 'cash cow' for the ICC and other board members. If this was India, Pakistan, England or Australia, the ICC would be more of a pro-active unit. Truthfully, the ICC needs to become more like FIFA, and control the game with some authority rather than acting as if they are some group of outsiders. Amit Gogwekar (USA)

When does a ruling international sports body have jurisdiction on national matters? Sport is international. If there are human right abuses (or any international violation which can be proven) the defaulting country should be penalized. But it is like trade embargo .You bring it against a government , which can circumvent those rules, but the citizens suffer greatly. If any sanctions are brought against Zimbabwe the fat corrupt rulers will take the next flight to Switzerland with their hidden accounts and bask in paradise, but the poor players will suffer. Sam Billimoria (USA)

What an absolute cop out from the ICC. This issue simply won't just go away. This is a complex problem which needs a complex set of solutions due to the political situation of both the sport and the nation as a whole, cricket in Zimbabwe needs leadership that for various reasons, mainly political, it is not currently getting from within. I can see no other sport where this would be allowed to continue without repercussions for the offending board and for the sport it represents. For the love of the game change your constitution to reflect a bit of sense, for goodness sake at least do something! Martin Lauritsen

ICC has been wrong on many occasions, but I think it is handling the Zimbabwe issue rather properly. If anything, ICC needs to be less intrusive, not more. The Zimbabwe crisis is much larger than cricket. I am not sure why it would be OK for countries to play soccer and support the racist regime. I think action needs to be at governmental or inter-governmental level. H Shah (USA)

I don't think this kind of highly expensive no-results management would be tolerated anywhere else. KB Bose (Canada)

I would like to know what the ICC actually do? It seems they are happy to organise fixtures and pocket the lucrative TV rights, but when it comes to actually administering the game, they fall to pieces. The shambles in Zimbabwe is a reflection on them, and nothing can wash their hands clean of it. Rev D A Nichols (Australia)

While it is understandable that the ICC might be hamstrung by it's constitution in the extent of its influence over the Zimbabwe situation, why can it not convene a meeting of ICC members to propose a ban on all future fixtures, payments and dealings with Zimbabwe until the Zimbabwe mess is resolved. Brian Murphy

In the past week we have seen the ICC take a bold step and speak out - albeit about the 'worrying' habit of players trying to wind each other up. Is it me or is the ICC trying to make a show of strength; speaking out on an issue that is part of their remit, hoping to prove that they do have power to act? Graham Frost (UK)

I think it is clear for all to see, the ICC is an expensive waste of time. If a player so much as looks at a umpire wrong (never mind the fact that he could destroy said players career), then the ICC machinery clicks into action. However, corruption, player abuse, racism and dictatorships are all acceptable. Please the ICC is an insult to the people of Zimbabwe and to the fans of cricket world wide. Stop trying to justify yourselves, you are making bigger fools of yourselves than you already appear to be. Convert the ICC salaries into a player-relief fund and for once they would have served some sort of a purpose. Dave Deane (Zimbabwe)

Reading between the lines, I would like to suggest the possibility that the Zimbabwe government has hinted strongly behind the scenes to the ICC that cricket there will operate on the government's terms, or there will be no cricket there at all. If I am correct, then the ICC has decided that it is worth great cost to preserve Zimbabwean cricket, even in rump form. I would disagree with this decision, but I appreciate how hard such a decision would be to make. Alexander Woo (USA)

There is no doubt in my mind that the ICC is at least the guardian of cricket's integrity and must do something to protect the integrity of cricket in a country where that integrity is being increasingly eroded with each passing day. Cuen Lucas (South Africa)

A solution does have to come from within Zimbabwe but the ICC has a duty to ensure an appropriate standard of cricket is maintained. Until Zimbabwe's next test fixture it is a case of wait and see but there must come a time before the April tests against the West Indies where the situation is either resolved or their test status is suspended. I think the stakeholders in the West Indies would agree. Peter Blundell (Australia)

Would that the leaders of the USA, UK and Australia had behaved with such thoughtfulness before they went in to "fix" Iraq. Good job ICC, keep the pressure on Zimbabwe and keep us informed of what you are doing. Steb Fisher (Australia)

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