Olonga says MPs must try to stop the tour

Henry Olonga

Exiled cricketer Henry Olonga says the Government should still try to stop the Black Caps tour of Zimbabwe despite the inflexibility of the International Cricket Council.

Mr Olonga, Zimbabwe's first black test cricketer who fled to England after criticising the Robert Mugabe regime, said the ICC had yesterday moved to close down any avenues for the tour to be called off.

However, he said MPs must try to halt the tour, which would be a slap in the face for Mr Mugabe.

"We've got to do something. Shame on us if we don't try and attempt to get some headway on this issue.

"Not once has a team stood up, or a government stood up, and said we are standing up for moral reasons against what's happening here. I don't think the ball is back in the ICC's court, I think it's very firmly in the Government's court."

ICC chairman Ehsan Mani yesterday increased the pressure on the Government to take strong action itself if politicians wanted to block the tour.

After saying on Wednesday sporting sanctions or a clear directive would be respected by the ICC as a foreign policy tool, which could see the Black Caps escape hefty fines if they do not tour, Mr Mani swiftly strengthened his stance.

He released a statement in response to a Government request for a meeting saying a tour could be called off only if it is made "illegal".

Rules around the ICC's future tours programme allow a cricket team to be released from tour obligations because of any government action, including not granting approval, which makes it "impossible" or illegal.

Mr Mani and ICC lawyers will meet New Zealand's High Commissioner in London, Jonathan Hunt, tonight to find out if there is any leeway at all.

Foreign Affairs Minister Phil Goff accused the ICC yesterday of adopting "double-speak" but said he still wanted to know if Parliament passing a motion formally asking for the tour to be called off would be sufficient to allow the Black Caps to review their position without being punished.

NZ Cricket has indicated it does not think the voice of Parliament will be enough. Asked its position, a spokesman declined to say but referred to Mr Mani's second statement focusing on illegality.

Mr Goff has said the Government will not support legislation to stop the Black Caps leaving and there is no time for the law to be changed before they tour. He also has ruled out New Zealand unilaterally imposing sporting sanctions.

That leaves only a direct request to the Black Caps not to tour, which while not a legal mechanism, is likely to be backed by a majority of MPs and will be difficult for New Zealand Cricket and the ICC to simply ignore.

Green Party co-leader Rod Donald said yesterday MPs should hold the ICC to account.

He said a formal resolution, condemning the Mugabe regime and telling the cricketers Parliament does not want them to tour, would introduce a moral sanction.

"I think we need to call the ICC's bluff rather than ask them, 'Is this sufficiently strong?' I would like to challenge the ICC to reject that resolution."