New Zealand arrived in Harare on Tuesday for the start of their controversial tour of Zimbabwe.
They spent most of the day travelling from the Namibian capital, Windhoek, where they had a week’s preparation for two Test matches and a triangular one-day international series involving Zimbabwe and India over the next month.
For months a row has raged in New Zealand about whether the country should send a cricket team to a country where President Robert Mugabe has been widely criticised for human rights abuses.
The New Zealand government has expressed its dismay at the tour but drew back from actually instructing the cricketers not to travel here.
For their part, the New Zealand cricket board insisted they had to fulfil their International Cricket Council ”Future Tours Programme” commitment under pain of a $2-million fine. England found themselves in a similar position a year ago.
They went to Harare for just three one-day matches, declining to play Tests, with ICC approval, because it was recognised the young Zimbabwe team were not up to standard after 15 contracted white players went on strike alleging racism among the selectors.
Australia were also able to reduce their 2004 tour a few weeks later to three internationals, for the same reason.
Earlier in the year Sri Lanka had twice beaten a raw Zimbabwe side by more than an innings and 200 runs.
The Kiwis are scheduled to play a practice match among various Zimbabwe cricketers here on Wednesday, but this might be delayed 24 hours in view of the later arrival.
The first Test will begin at Harare Sports Club on Sunday. – Sapa-AFP