ICC rejects government's plea over Zimbabwe

The International Cricket Council (ICC) says it is up to politicians to end cricket tours to Zimbabwe and not the ICC.

ICC President Ehsan Mani today formally rejected the New Zealand Government's request to alter its future tours programme.

Foreign Minister Phil Goff had urged the ICC to alter the rules to allow teams to forfeit tours to countries where serious human rights abuses are occurring.

The moves followed the Government's call for the New Zealand Black Caps cricket team not to tour Zimbabwe.

Mr Mani said in a letter to Mr Goff that the ICC had considered the Zimbabwe issue many times and it was not its place to make political decisions.

"In short, the board recognises that issues of the relationships between countries are driven by politicians and governments that are elected by the people to deal with these political issues," Mr Mani said.

"It is also recognised that governments will, from time to time, elect to use sporting sanctions as a tool in their foreign policy programmes.

"Our members accept and respect that where this clear directive is given by a national government, the obligations of the future tours programme will not apply."

Mr Mani said in no way did the ICC endorse political regimes of policies in any of its 96 member nations who had a common interest in playing cricket.

"It simply reflects the reality that it's for governments and politicians that are elected, to grapple with the complexities and difficulties of international relations between countries," he said.

The future tours programme was discussed at the last meeting of the ICC board on June 29.

"No country sought to have this policy reviewed," Mr Mani said.

New Zealand Cricket representatives attended that board meeting.

Mr Goff and others have urged New Zealand Cricket not to go to Zimbabwe in August and has said it will block the Zimbabwe team visiting here later this year.

New Zealand Cricket says it is contractually committed to the tour and stands to lose millions of dollars if it does not go.

Green party co-leader Rod Donald has campaigned for the Government to direct New Zealand Cricket to go saying it will get them off their contractual hook.

Today, Mr Donald said the ICC letter had given the Government a "green light" to stop the tour to Zimbabwe.

"It is an unequivocal statement that the ICC respects the right of governments to impose sporting sanctions," Mr Donald said.

"It is now time for Helen Clark to issue a clear directive."


Mr Goff said he would urgently seek clarification from the ICC as to what it meant by a "clear directive" from a national government.


"If the ICC is saying that it would be sufficient for the New Zealand Parliament to pass a resolution saying on behalf of the majority of New Zealanders that New Zealand Cricket should not tour Zimbabwe at the present time... we would welcome that and put such a resolution to Parliament," Mr Goff said.


Mr Goff said in the eyes of the ICC a resolution may not be enough to legally constitute a "clear directive" and he was still ruling out urgent legislation banning the team from travelling to Zimbabwe.


"But I am more than happy to test the view of Parliament on a resolution saying they should not to tour and if that would relieve New Zealand Cricket of its obligations, I would welcome that."


A majority of parties in Parliament have already condemned the tour


- NZPA