No reason to boycott Zimbabwe, says ICC president

HARARE: International Cricket Council president Ray Mali says the security situation in Zimbabwe does not warrant a boycott by any Test-playing nation, calling for a well-defined separation of politics from sport.

Mali, a South African, was speaking to journalists at the end of a familiarisation tour of Zimbabwe and its cricket facilities in both Harare and Bulawayo, the ZBC News said on Monday.

The ICC chief is trying to assess how the world cricket governing body can continue to help Zimbabwe Cricket on its roadmap for the resumption of Test participation.

Touring Zimbabwe Aug 21, Mali told journalists in Harare that he has been impressed with the situation in Zimbabwe and the lack of security reported in the foreign media is an exaggeration.

On the need for the separation of politics and sport, Mali said while ICC members have a right to be concerned about the security of their players, there is a need to use independent verification on the security situation in member countries and to clearly separate politics from sport.

Mali, who attended the one-day international matches between Zimbabwe and South Africa, said the security situation in Zimbabwe has at no time been questioned.

The ICC president also said he is impressed by the work being done by Zimbabwe Cricket to promote the sport.

Despite pressure from some international quarters, the South African Cricket team came to Zimbabwe to play a full ODI series in which it white-washed the hosts.