Zimbabwe cricket officials said they were relieved on Sunday following the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) decision to clear the Zimbabwe Cricket Union (ZCU) of racism.
The allegations had been made by 15 sacked white Zimbabwe cricketers, who had insisted for several weeks that the ICC investigate their claims of racism in team selection.
The ICC announced its decision in Pakistan at its executive board meeting, following receipt of a report by adjudicators Goolam Vahanvati of India and Justice Majiedt of South Africa.
However, the two ”eminent persons” had been obliged to base their report only on written evidence. Their formal hearing in Harare two weeks ago, designed to take verbal evidence from some of the sacked Zimbabwe players, was abandoned when former captain Heath Streak, Trevor Gripper and Stuart Carlisle refused to speak in front of ZCU directors, claiming the hearing was supposed to be ”in camera”.
”This last six months has been hell for us,” former Zimbabwe cricket selector Macsood Ebrahim. ”We know we are not racists and our consciences are clear. We have now been vindicated, though that is not really the right word. I’m over the moon about the verdict.”
Ebrahim was one of the selectors Streak complained about six months ago, which resulted in his immediate dismissal. Fourteen other players were also dismissed when they went on strike in Streak’s support.
”This all became personalised for me because of my position. But I have always had a clear conscience about it,” said Ossia Bvute, the chairperson of the committee responsible for implementing the integration of black players into all levels of cricket in Zimbabwe, including the national side.
”I have also consistently said and believe the allegations were baseless and now I’m delighted the ICC agrees with that,” Bvute added.
The players, though, are certain to be disappointed. They had lined up considerable oral evidence describing instances of what they considered racist incidents.
Streak was not available for comment on Sunday. Carlisle and Gripper both said they couldn’t comment until they had seen the formal ICC statement.
Neither Vincent Hogg, the former ZCU managing director who also wanted to give evidence at the aborted hearing, nor the players’ lawyer, Chris Venturas, were available for comment.
Meanwhile, England and Wales Cricket Board operations manager John Carr and players’ representative Richard Bevan were due in Harare on Sunday to examine safety and security measures ahead of a one-day international tour by England beginning late next month. – Sapa-AP