LONDON, 23 August 2005 — Britain has called on cricket’s governing body to ban Zimbabwe from playing international matches because of its human rights record, a government spokesman said yesterday. Britain has strongly criticized Zimbabwe’s urban demolition campaign which a UN report said has destroyed the livelihoods of some 700,000 people.
The Zimbabwe government says the operation was aimed at rooting out urban crime and was a prelude to a program to build better housing for poor people.
“We would now like to ask if the ICC could reflect on the current situation and take a view on whether or not they see international cricket fixtures against and/or in Zimbabwe to be appropriate while such widespread human rights abuses are taking place,” said Foreign Minister Jack Straw and Culture Minister Tessa Jowell in a letter to the International Cricket Council.
Last year some human rights groups criticized the British government for not stopping England’s cricket tour of Zimbabwe.
Ministers said they had not wanted the tour to go ahead but could not instruct England not to go.
Vincent, Fleming Guide New Zealand
to Tour Win
In Bulawayo, Lou Vincent and captain Stephen Fleming shared a century stand to guide New Zealand to a comfortable win over a Zimbabwe Board XI in their one-day tour match in Bulawayo yesterday.
New Zealand, chasing Zimbabwe’s total of 193 for eight, won by eight wickets with 24.5 overs to spare. Vincent scored 66 and Fleming made 47 as they put on 108 for the first wicket. Craig McMillan finished unbeaten on 46 while Hamish Marshall was 25 not out. Medium pacer Scott Styris and off spinner Jeetan Patel took two wickets each for New Zealand but the pick of the attack was fast bowler Andre Adams, who picked up one for 12 from nine overs. Zimbabwe and New Zealand will play the first match in a triangular series also involving India in Bulawayo tomorrow.
