Tim Lamb you pr@t. [Archive]

Stavros 69

14-01-2003, 10:53 PM

I am sitting here disgusted after watching the 10 o’clock news knowing the England Cricket team is going to play in Zimbabwe. I can’t believe how stupid the cricked board are letting our players go over to the famine ridden country to play under the eyes of the mad man. I hope may of the players turn the cricket board down and stay at home. I am a fan of the game and will be writing a letter in frustration tomorrow morning. Any other views ????

AshfordianEagle

14-01-2003, 10:57 PM

Yes, I also think it is wrong for the game to take place, but why should the cricketers be made to make the gesture. Surely it is down to this government to put some decent sanctions in place first. People forget that there are a large number of UK based business still doing their stuff in Zimbabwe, surely if this was not the case then we could argue that the cricketers shouldn't go.

Mat ov CPFC

15-01-2003, 07:46 AM

Originally posted by AshfordianEagle
Yes, I also think it is wrong for the game to take place, but why should the cricketers be made to make the gesture. Surely it is down to this government to put some decent sanctions in place first. People forget that there are a large number of UK based business still doing their stuff in Zimbabwe, surely if this was not the case then we could argue that the cricketers shouldn't go.

Valid point. Personally I do not want England playing Cricket against Zimbabwe for the reasons mentioned and I would be quite happy for tax payers money to be used to compensate the ECB for any loss that this action might entail. I cannot understand why the Government will not do this.

Thin on Top

15-01-2003, 08:00 AM

The reason they are going is due to the lack of compensation offered by the government if they did not go. Bearing in mind it will cost english cricket millions if they do not go (and zimbabwe pull out of touring england this summer) I don't think they had much choice.

anti-addick

15-01-2003, 08:01 AM

I'm sorry, but the board bloke was quite right, as he said "Why should sport suffer again to try to fill a foreign policy vacuum".

If the government really cared about Zimbabwe then they'd feckin well do something about it themselves. It would be a pointless gesture to not play, as is Mugabe would actually give a rats arse if England didn't play.

I can't believe that you lot are this naive.

Skin Up

15-01-2003, 08:02 AM

Shambles as usual, it's not as if Mugabes been in power overnight, he's been in charge for 20 odd years? and only in the last month have the press, government, ICC and ECB woken up to this.

Whats the betting a simliar fiasco happens in the run up to the 2008 olympics or any future football world cup that gets held in a unstable country. You'd think the tossers would think things though before they choose these venues.

Grim Reaper

15-01-2003, 09:44 AM

Originally posted by anti-addick
I'm sorry, but the board bloke was quite right, as he said "Why should sport suffer again to try to fill a foreign policy vacuum".

If the government really cared about Zimbabwe then they'd feckin well do something about it themselves. It would be a pointless gesture to not play, as is Mugabe would actually give a rats arse if England didn't play.

Spot on. I know things are bad in Zimbabwe and I feel for the people of that country but why should English sportsmen suffer, when businesses are over there happily making a profit?

The World Cup is something that many only get to play in once if ever, so why should they miss out?

What possible improvement will there be to the people of Zimbabwe if we don't play the game?

Surely the best thing we can do is put out a focussed team who beat Zimbabwe with the full support of the nation.

Batsta

15-01-2003, 09:48 AM

I know bugger all about it. But have any other countries pulled out?

Mat ov CPFC

15-01-2003, 10:39 AM

Originally posted by Grim Reaper

What possible improvement will there be to the people of Zimbabwe if we don't play the game?

Not immediate improvements but if Mugabe was isolated by having all Western countrys to withdraw thier Ambassadors and declare blanket sanctions then it might speed up his over throw.

But this decesion is a political one and as such needs to be made by the Government. If the ECB where to announce it was not going to pick any players with Muslim heritage in protest at the attacks on September 11th people quite rightly would berate it for allowing political events to come into its selection policy so I fail to see why this Government, who maintain an Embassy in Zimbabwe, can try and make them not play in the World Cup based on the Political situation.

The Prime Minister should come outright and ask the Cricket team not to go and offer to re-inburse the ECB for any costs involved. I am sure then they would not go.

Oz_da_Eagle

16-01-2003, 09:22 AM

As much as I like to slag off the ECB one can't argue with their judgement on this issue. It's down to the government to make decisions on such matters as these not a sporting body. But the government would be a wee bit hypocritical if it told the cricket team to stay at home while letting many business continue trading in Zimbabwe.

The best way to deal with this and maybe make some headlines would be to turn their backs on Madman Bob during the opening ceremonies. This would show England's and the world's feeling toward this nutcase far better than simply not showing up.