Zimbabwe Cricket Online volume 4, issue 17, 10 January 2003

The year 2003 gets into motion to the strident cries of well-meaning people advocating a total cricketing boycott of Zimbabwe for the World Cup. Once more we ask them, "What about the very serious effect such a boycott would have on the game in Zimbabwe? What plans to you have to counter that damage?"

At least England look likely to play now - now that their politicians have refused to pay the compensation that they would owe Zimbabwe if they pulled out unilaterally. It looks, then, as if the only hopes of those wanting a boycott of Zimbabwe lie in what they would call `a deterioration of the security situation in the country'. But we hope nobody wants that. Zimbabweans have little enough to cheer them at present, so at least allow us a World Cup that will stimulate the game in this country.

CONTENTS

• National League scores and averages
• Updated biography: Gus Mackay
• Detailed first-class career record: Grant Flower
• Letters

Next week sees the start of an innovation, an official one-day inter-provincial competition in Zimbabwe. Normal one-day rules apply, with 50 overs per innings. Provided obstacles can be overcome, some of these matches will be covered from the ground by CricInfo. They are as follows:

Wednesday 15 January: Matabeleland v Midlands, at Harare Sports Club
Manicaland v Mashonaland, at Mutare Sports Club
Friday 17 January:    Manicaland v Matabeleland, at Alexandra Sports Club
Mashonaland v Midlands, at Country Club
Sunday 19 January:    Manicaland v Midlands, at Alexandra Sports Club
Mashonaland v Matabeleland, at Harare Sports Club