West Indies A in Zimbabwe 2007

The straw that broke Zimbabwe's back?

Steven Price in London

June 13, 2007

Zimbabwe Cricket chairman Peter Chingoka now faces an almost insurmountable battle to persuade the ICC to allow his country back into Test cricket © Getty Images

But it is far more than that. Until now the Zimbabwe government, and by association the politicised executive of Zimbabwe Cricket, has dismissed aborted visits by England and Australia and a cancelled trip to New Zealand as being racially motivated. When Australia's prime minister blocked his side from honouring their proposed tour later this year, Zimbabwe's information minister countered by saying that it was "a racist ploy to kill our local cricket since our cricket team is now dominated by black players".

That argument has been blown out of the water by today's news. Hard though some officials inside Zimbabwe might try, they will struggle to label the Caribbean's players, administrators and even politicians as racists.

The timing is also appalling as far as Zimbabwe's executive is concerned. In less than a fortnight they will be in London trying to persuade the ICC that they are ready to be readmitted to the Test fold. Few believe that they are remotely good enough in terms of playing strength, the exodus of players continues - with more rumoured to be preparing to jump ship - allegations of financial mismanagement won't go away, and all the time the political mess in the country worsens.

Despite all that, the see-no-evil, hear-no-evil executive board of the ICC might still have let Zimbabwe get away with it. But if players from outside the white nations are saying enough is enough, then things can no longer be swept under the carpet in return for support in key votes.

What is more, the West Indies board is now facing a major problem. While there will be no financial penalty for the A team not touring, the senior side is due in Zimbabwe in November. If the WICB is forced to pull out of that, then it will have to pay millions of dollars to Zimbabwe, money it simply does not have. The alternative is a shabby ring-around until 15 willing cricketers can be found. It would almost be a reverse of the infamous rebel tours to South Africa in the 1980s.

The only get-out, according to the ICC's own oft-quoted regulations, is if the government bans players from travelling. The problem is that there are eight or nine governments involved in the Caribbean, and the chances of them all acting in unison are remote.

In short, the ICC has no choice but to head this shambles-in-waiting off at the pass and refuse to readmit Zimbabwe to Test cricket. That way, the West Indies tour problem goes away.

The net result will be that the right decision is taken, even if it is for all the wrong reasons. For that, cricket owes the West Indies' players a thank you. And spare a thought for the ordinary players in Zimbabwe who are the real victims of their own board's antics.

Steven Price is a freelance journalist based in Harare

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