Australian cricket officials visiting Zimbabwe to inspect conditions before Australia’s scheduled tour in May steered away from controversy on Tuesday over playing under President Robert Mugabe’s repressive regime.
Speaking at a press conference, Cricket Australia general manager Michael Brown left little doubt that the month-long tour would go ahead, and made it clear that politics and ethics would not determine the issue.
”We will meet the commitments in the coming tour. I see no reason for us not coming here again,” he said, adding, ”The only changes will made on security issues. We are here to play cricket. We’re not political experts.”
The Australian stance is in sharp contrast to that of the England Cricket Board which in January expressed serious misgivings about the England team’s visit scheduled for November.
According to a report which it had commissioned, it would be ”unethical” to play in Zimbabwe under a violent political repression. The report’s findings would be taken into account.
Brown, CA chief executive Tim May and Australian team manager Steve Barnard arrived on Monday for a two-day assessment of conditions at the grounds in Harare and the western city of Bulawayo.
They met Sports Minister Aeneas Chigwedere, top police officials and Zimbabwe Cricket Union officials in Harare and will be in Bulawayo on Wednesday.
Last year’s Cricket World Cup was based in South Africa, but some of the games were played in neighbouring Zimbabwe, where controversy dominated.
England withdrew and two Zimbabwean players, batsman Andy Flower and fast bowler Henry Olonga wore black armbands on the field to protest against ”the death of democracy”.
Olonga fled the country after receiving death threats for his action. The Australians spent barely 24 hours in the country, and left almost immediately after their game.
Brown said there were ”fundamental differences” in the situation then and today, as the World Cup involved countries from all over the world. Cricket Australia took into account, ”September 11 and a range of other activities around the world,” he said.
Only Zimbabwe was involved now. ”We don’t see it any different from touring Sri Lanka,” where Australia is playing now, he said.
He would not comment on the ECB decision.
”I do not represent the ECB,” he said, and brushed off questions about Zimbabwe state propaganda that accused the Australian government of committing ”genocide” against Aboriginals and termed Prime Minister John Howard, ”that coward called Howard”.
Howard has been at the forefront of international criticism of Mugabe’s human rights abuses. During the Australian match in Bulawayo last year, several demonstrators were arrested at the grounds and then assaulted in the city’s central police station.
Brown said Tuesday he was there, but saw ”no incidents.” – Sapa-DPA