Zimbabwe Test series called off

HARARE: Zimbabwe’s two-Test cricket series against world champions Australia was called off yesterday, just 24 hours before it was due to start. In an unprecedented move, the Zimbabwe Cricket Union (ZCU) and Cricket Australia agreed at a meeting in Harare to adjourn the matches to a later date. Zimbabwe would have fielded a severely weakened team after 15 white players walked out in a dispute over selection. Three One-Day Internationals, originally set for June, are being brought forward to May 25, 27 and 29.

The joint decision came two hours before an International Cricket Council (ICC) teleconference which looked likely to strip the series of its test status. The teleconference was swiftly called off.  “The Zimbabwe Cricket Union and Cricket Australia have agreed to adjourn the Test matches to a date to be fixed and have requested the ICC executive board to endorse this agreement at their  June meeting,” said a statement read out a news conference by Cricket Australia chairman Bob Merriman. Australian officials had hinted the team would return home if the Test series was declassified by the ICC.

“Naturally we are disappointed that the Test matches could not be played, but given the circumstances that confronted both boards and in the interests of Test match cricket throughout the world we have come to this agreement,” Merriman said.  Australian Prime Minister John Howard told local television: “That’s a very understandable decision. It’s a matter now for the ICC to determine what now happens. “All I can say is that Australian cricket fans want Australian teams to play the best teams from other countries and they don’t want any of those teams selected on the basis of race.”

Zimbabwe cricket has been in turmoil since 15 of their leading white players, including ex-captain Heath Streak, refused to play last month.
They accused the Zimbabwe board of allowing politicians to dictate the make-up of the team and of rushing young black players into the side before they were ready. The ZCU, which follows a policy of promoting black players to reflect the country’s population, first offered to negotiate but then lost patience and sacked the players. The players were invited back, and had said they were ready to play in the one-dayers. However, they were sacked again yesterday and said they would be taking their case to the ICC. Players’ lawyer Chris Venturas said: “The ZCU lawyer called me to say the players are all fired and that they must return their cars to the ZCU.

So most of them will be catching buses or be on bicycles from tomorrow.”  Zimbabwe were forced to field a young, largely black side which has been thrashed recently by Sri Lanka 5-0 in a one-day series and 2-0 in the Tests, both defeats by an innings. The Sri Lanka series raised ICC concerns over damage to the “integrity of cricket.” No series has been declassified before although a match between South Africa and India in 2001 was not recognised by the ICC when the sides sacked match referee Mike Denness without the governing body’s approval.