Zimbabwe board fined for currency breaches

Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) has been fined Zim$130 million (£700) after using an offshore account to pay for the purchase of cricket balls from Pakistan.

A magistrates court in Harare was told that the board paid £12,000 to Ishan Sports in breach of the country's Exchange Control Regulations.

The board pleaded guilty to the charge. In its defence, it was pointed out that the balls were used for the good of the sport in Zimbabwe.

The existence of external accounts - the main one is believed to be with Barclays in London - has long been a controversial subject, with critics of the board questioning funds diverted to it. Its use is also, as evidenced here, in breach of the country's own laws unless transactions are authorised by the central bank.

Peter Chingoka, one of the ZC signatories and the board's chairman, signed the cheque, the Herald newspaper reported.