The unlucky 13
We highlight which organisations been granted permission to enter Zimbabwe and which ones haven't
Wisden Cricinfo staff
25-Nov-2004
The Zimbabwean authorities' decision to refuse to admit 13 journalists to Zimbabwe to cover the one-day series has thrown the tour into doubt. "Bona fide media organisations in the UK have been cleared, those that are political have not," said George Charamba, secretary for the Zimbabwean information ministry, said. "This is a game of cricket, not politics. Those that want to bowl us out of politics will have to do so in the political arena."
So why have some organisations been granted permission and other not? We list the breakdown of who's in and who's not.
Allowed in
The Guardian - The most surprising inclusion given its long-standing record of exposing the Mugabe regime's excesses. In 2003 Andrew Meldrum, its correspondent in Zimbabwe, was physically deported after being found guilty of "publishing falsehoods" and now reports on the country from Johannesburg.
The Independent - Has been critical of regime.
Press Association - Supplies copy to numerous media organisations and adopts a fairly middle-of-the-road approach to coverage.
Reuters - One of its freelance contributors - Telford Vice - was refused access to Zimbabwe in May for no credible reason while attempting to cover cricket. But as with Press Association, fairly mild criticism.
Daily Mail - Has been fairly strident in highlighting abuses of Mugabe government.
Daily Express - No major coverage of Zimbabwe.
The Guardian - The most surprising inclusion given its long-standing record of exposing the Mugabe regime's excesses. In 2003 Andrew Meldrum, its correspondent in Zimbabwe, was physically deported after being found guilty of "publishing falsehoods" and now reports on the country from Johannesburg.
The Independent - Has been critical of regime.
Press Association - Supplies copy to numerous media organisations and adopts a fairly middle-of-the-road approach to coverage.
Reuters - One of its freelance contributors - Telford Vice - was refused access to Zimbabwe in May for no credible reason while attempting to cover cricket. But as with Press Association, fairly mild criticism.
Daily Mail - Has been fairly strident in highlighting abuses of Mugabe government.
Daily Express - No major coverage of Zimbabwe.
Refused Access
BBC - Banned since June 2000 for alleged bias in election coverage.
The Daily Telegraph - Described at various times by the regime as an agent for MI5, the paper has repeatedly highlighted political abuses inside Zimbabwe. In April, Mihir Bose was deported from the country for what he claimed were fabricated accreditation reasons.
The Times - Has highlighted political excesses of the Mugabe regime for some time.
The Sun/News of the World - Its Zimbabwe coverage has been sparse but damning.
The Mirror - Has taken irregular pot-shots at Mugabe and reacted to the news with the headline "Butcher of Africa bans Mirror ...we couldn't be more proud".
BBC - Banned since June 2000 for alleged bias in election coverage.
The Daily Telegraph - Described at various times by the regime as an agent for MI5, the paper has repeatedly highlighted political abuses inside Zimbabwe. In April, Mihir Bose was deported from the country for what he claimed were fabricated accreditation reasons.
The Times - Has highlighted political excesses of the Mugabe regime for some time.
The Sun/News of the World - Its Zimbabwe coverage has been sparse but damning.
The Mirror - Has taken irregular pot-shots at Mugabe and reacted to the news with the headline "Butcher of Africa bans Mirror ...we couldn't be more proud".
Did Not Apply
Sky Sports - declined to bid for rights to an England overseas tour for the first time since 1989-90. In April a crew from Sky News was expelled from Zimbabwe for not getting government permission to film.
Wisden Cricinfo - Advised earlier in the year that it was not welcome, enquiries to Zimbabwe cricket whether that situation still applied went unanswered.
Sky Sports - declined to bid for rights to an England overseas tour for the first time since 1989-90. In April a crew from Sky News was expelled from Zimbabwe for not getting government permission to film.
Wisden Cricinfo - Advised earlier in the year that it was not welcome, enquiries to Zimbabwe cricket whether that situation still applied went unanswered.