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India to save zimbabwe in icc vite
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Twenty20: India block isolation of Zimbabwe
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/mai.../scindi126.xml
The Indian board were steadfast last night in their refusal to back moves to isolate Zimbabwe from the world game, leaving the England and Wales Cricket Board fighting a delicate political game ahead of next week's meeting of the International Cricket Council.
With backing from the Government, the ECB yesterday severed all ties with Zimbabwe and cancelled their tour here next year. A letter from Andy Burnham, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, instructed the ECB that Zimbabwe would not be allowed to fulfil a one-day series in England next summer.
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The letter stopped short of preventing Zimbabwe from participating in the Twenty20 World Championship, which is due to take place in England next June.
But during Prime Minister's questions, Gordon Brown called on other cricketing nations to follow the ECB's lead. "We want to ensure that Zimbabwe do not tour England next year. We will call for other countries to join us in banning Zimbabwe from the Twenty20 tournament," he said.
A motion has been tabled to discuss the Zimbabwe situation at next week's ICC meeting in Dubai but it is still unclear if the member countries will be asked to vote on removing their international status.
They are more likely to strip Zimbabwe of one-day status, which would solve the problem of their appearance at the World Twenty20 Championship. Under such an agreement, Zimbabwe would retain voting rights and funding from the ICC.
The Indian board have supported Zimbabwe in the past and voted together on ICC matters. The Asian bloc countries - Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka - will follow India's lead in Dubai. "India's position in all this is crucial," said David Morgan, the ICC's president-elect.
Last night a senior source within the Indian board told The Daily Telegraph they were still behind Zimbabwe and would not support any motion to throw them out of the ICC.
Giles Clarke, the chairman of the ECB, yesterday met with his Indian counterpart, Sharad Pawar, who was at Lord's to attend a dinner to commemorate India's 1983 World Cup final victory. Pawar described their discussions on Zimbabwe as "detailed on every aspect", and Clarke is hopeful his relationship with Pawar will sway opinion.
Any motion to suspend Zimbabwe needs support from seven of the 10 member countries. The Indian board would risk international vilification if they failed to make a stand and South Africa, traditionally Zimbabwe's staunchest ally, have already cut bilateral ties.
But India are in a strong bargaining position with the ECB. The use by county sides of players with ties to the rebel Indian Cricket League has irked the Indian board.
Morgan yesterday said the ICC recently ruled that a member country could not be banished over the politics of its government. He said that on Sky and the broadcaster cut to Archbishop Desmond Tutu on a recent visit to London, where he told an audience at Lord's: "It is a myth that sports and politics do not mix."
Morgan shifted uncomfortably under the glare of the cameras. But there appear to be even hotter times ahead in Dubai and the heat will not just be down to the Arabian summer.
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