Cricket: Mugabe gets the message again

HARARE - Zimbabwe batsman Andy Flower defied cricket authorities yesterday by protesting once more against President Robert Mugabe's Government during his team's match against India in Harare.

Flower, who wore a black armband in the first match against Namibia last week and issued a strong statement condemning human rights abuses in his country, took the field against India wearing a black wrist band.

Fast bowler Henry Olonga, who had joined Flower in the extraordinary protest in the first match, was relegated to 12th-man duties, but also wore a black wrist band similar to Flower's.

They were joined in their protest by a group of four men and two women in the stands who were also wearing black armbands.

They held posters, one praising Flower and Olonga as "two brave men" for their statement of protest against Mugabe's Government.

Another poster applauded England's boycott of their scheduled match in Harare and the stance of captain Nasser Hussain.

"There's more to the meaning of 'cricket' than cricket - well done England and Nasser," it read.

Uniformed crowd control police sitting directly in front of the stands took no action.

Among the spectators was farmer Mike Carter, who was arrested for wearing a black armband at the Zimbabwe-Namibia match. He was forced to pay a fine of about $100 for "conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace".

Both Flower and Olonga were reported to the International Cricket Council by the Zimbabwe Cricket Union after the Namibia game.

The sport's governing body declined to take action and only asked the players not to wear the armbands.

There was no immediate response from the ICC on the latest action by the two players.

Almost half of Zimbabwe's 14 million people reportedly face food shortages and the leader of the main Opposition party faces a death sentence after being accused of plotting to kill Mugabe.

On the field, India were too good, winning by 83 runs, after running up 255 for seven. Sachin Tendulkar scored a fine 81.

Zimbabwe were always struggling and were dismissed for 172.

The result moved India to second in pool A.

Despite their earlier humiliation against Australia, the Indians are well in the hunt for the Super Six stage.

- AGENCIES

* No games tonight.

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