Writers demand action on Zimbabwe expulsions

The Cricket Writers' Club has demanded that the International Cricket Council act after two of its members were deported from Zimbabwe while covering the current series against Sri Lanka.

Mihir Bose of the Daily Telegraph and Telford Vice, covering the tour 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.

"The Cricket Writers' Club represents more than 350 members worldwide and deplores the treatment of Bose, who was in Zimbabwe on legitimate reporting duties," said Colin Evans, the CWC's chairman. "Our members must be allowed to carry out their duties free from censorship, threats or bullying wherever they are working, and we call on the authorities to safeguard our rights.

"The International Cricket Council has a duty to ensure that our members, who promote and publicise the game of cricket, are treated with respect by all ten Test-playing nations."

The CWC are also unhappy with the ZCU's charge of US$600 to process journalists' accreditation applications. "We ask the ICC to negotiate to remove the fee," Evans added. "Zimbabwe is the only country in the world that imposes a levy of any sort."

Freedom of the press in Zimbabwe is a major source of unease. The BBC, which is described by the Zimbabwe government as a "terrorist" organisation, is banned from having any representation and has to file from neighbouring South Africa, while the local media has suffered a severe clampdown.