The Indian board has yet to take a position on the vexed Zimbabwe issue. Traditionally, the Board of Control for Cricket in India is known to be friendly to the African nation
MUMBAI: The Indian board has yet to take a position on the vexed Zimbabwe issue. Traditionally, the Board of Control for Cricket in India is known to be friendly to the African nation despite international clamour against the Robert Mugabe-led government in Zimbabwe.
Recent reports have suggested that the BCCI will oppose any move by the England and Wales Cricket Board and Cricket South Africa — both have recently scrapped bilateral ties with the ZCU — to strip Zimbabwe of ODI status, but a top BCCI official has said their stand will be guided by government policy. “It is likely that we will back Zimbabwe but we’re waiting for the word from the president,” said the official. BCCI president Sharad Pawar, who is a senior minister at the Centre, could not be reached for comment.
Interestingly, ECB has put across its views to Pawar who was in London the other day. ECB chairman Giles Clarke met the BCCI president and is believed to have sought the Indian board’s support on the issue as unless ICC approves action against Zimbabewe, next year’s Twenty20 World Cup in England will be in jeopardy. If Zimbabwe players are not allowed to enter England, ICC could be forced to move the tournament elsewhere.
Any action against Zimbabwe requires seven votes out of 10 full members among whom Zimbabwe Cricket Union is a voter. If the sub-continent, led by India, vote against the motion, England and South Africa will fail to get the required seven votes. ECB and CSA, of course, are expected to get support from Australia, New Zealand, West Indies.
The ICC, meanwhile, has said that discussion on Zimbabwe will be top-most on the agenda of the annual conference, to be held in Dubai from Monday. ICC president Ray Mali himself has proposed action against Zimbabwe. “The worsening situation within the country has prompted the ICC president to place the issue on the agenda at the meeting,” an ICC release said.
Among other things, the ICC will choose a successor to Sunil Gavaskar, who last month quit as chairman of ICC’s cricket committee. Former Pakistan captain Majid Khan and former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd are the contenders for the post. The Indian board’s vote will be for the Pakistani.
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