Would you tour Zimbabwe?

[BoyBrumby]

Well there are several ways to look at it. Firstly I absolutely think that Zimbabwe should be excluded from international cricket until there's some real proof that there's no political interference in the selection of the team. However, given the ICC's abject lack of stones on the issue, one's team could very well end up touring. I'm not altogether sure I'd like to leave my team-mates to face something I would not. Ironically I'd probably be more likely refuse to tour if there were no security issues & it was transparent that my objection was a moral one rather than a concern for my personal safety.

Of course all that assumes I’m an international cricketer already. The real answer is actually that were I selected to play for England I'd crawl over crushed glass to do it, regardless of venue!

 

[Langeveldt]

Well there are several ways to look at it. Firstly I absolutely think that Zimbabwe should be excluded from international cricket until there's some real proof that there's no political interference in the selection of the team.

Show me a cricket side, bar England, Aus, SL and NZ, where there is no political interference in the selection of a team.. You'd have a very small cricketing fraternity if you did that..

 

[Langeveldt]

were I selected to play for England I'd crawl over crushed glass to do it, regardless of venue!

And you'd still be better tha.....

 

[BoyBrumby]

Show me a cricket side, bar England, Aus, SL and NZ, where there is no political interference in the selection of a team.. You'd have a very small cricketing fraternity if you did that..

Fair point actually, particularly in SA. Although as undesirable as some of the political interference in other boards may be, no cricketers have yet worn armbands to mark the death of democracy in any country except Zimbabwe.

 

[open365]

I was about to say no then i read Hingston's post and changed my mind.

It'd be nice to think not touring a country for moral grounds would affect the way the country runs itself, but it's not going to. If i could brighten up a few people's days by playing cricket (especialy if they are being oppressed by the regime in their country) and signing a few autographs i would be do it.

 

[marc71178]

To be honest, given the stuff I've written, I'm a little disappointed that I haven't.

Maybe you have, but they sent it to that arm-wrestling dude by mistake?

 

[age_master]

I would probably tour, i think the security issues are non-existant - international teams would be kept very safe. As for moral grounds i think it would be unfair to take objections about the dictatorship out on the players.

 

[LA ICE-E]

isn't he a president or is he really a dictator? I don't have a clue about zimbabwe politics ...

 

[Smudge]

You fascinate me Prince.

If you tell Prince "that's a lovely perfume you're wearing", I'm putting you on ignore.

 

[FBU]

Lovely country.. The nicest evil dictatorship I've ever seen, which probably makes everything even more tragic..

I'd go to Zimbabwe, for two reasons

1/ I don't understand the security issue... If you keep away from sensitive areas and don't say or do anything stupid, it's actually a fairly safe country to be in (as a tourist).. I'd feel less threatened walking around Harare than I would many many other cities in the world.. Most of them being in my own back yard

2/ Not playing Zimbabwe on "Moral Grounds" is such a load of hogwash IMO... Mugabe and his evil regime do not care about morals, he would laugh in your face if you mentioned western "morals".. Not touring wouldn't register on his or anyones conscience whatsoever, and the Zimbabwe situation is beyond saving, especially when it comes to sanctions.. Nobody cares about Zim like they cared about South Africa I'm afraid..

Zims are among the warmest and most hospitable people in the world, who've had their lives shot to pieces.. I'd go there and play cricket if it brightened someones day

Me too.

 

[Natman20]

Send a 'C' team to make it competitive. I wouldn't tour there if I was a cricketer. The government makes (slight) profits from the cricket which they use to do bad things.

 

[SJS]

I would go ...... as a tourist.

 

[Perm]

I would just want to play cricket.

 

[Craig]

Not completely dis-similar actually. I have a press-related ban, despite never writing anything about the Zimbabwean team aside from on a couple of forums. Mugabe reads cricketweb evidently..

Somehow I have doubts over whether it really is a press-related though - my connection with Zimbabwe is quite strange. There's some evidence to suggest I may have been born there, despite my parents' insistance that they've never been there.

What the hell?

You were either born there or you weren't

I'm sure you could get one - they hand them out like they're going out of fashion evidently.

If you don't mind me asking how did you find out you had a press related ban?

 

[Prince EWS]

What the hell?

You were either born there or you weren't

Indeed. I don't know which is true though.

 

[Craig]

Indeed. I don't know which is true though.

With all due respect that has to be the most bizarre thing I have read in a while.

 

[Clarence]

Prince, it would be great if you could explain this interesting situation in a little more detail here...I am intrigued.

 

[SJS]

Prince, it would be great if you could explain this interesting situation in a little more detail here...I am intrigued.

Now we are all hooked to this page.

Come on what was it. Test tube baby, frozen embryos, sperm banks or something more spiritual.

Just kidding Prince.

 

[Prince EWS]

Haha, I probably just shouldn't have said anything really. I couldn't resist though given the thread topic. I'll have to put an end to it now though, sorry.

 

[GIMH]

Creepiest post ever? Yes imo.

If you tell Prince "that's a lovely perfume you're wearing", I'm putting you on ignore.

bad choice of words by myself?