[Maczebus]

This ol' chestnut again.

Here's where we stand:
It's fairly clear most of the England team aren't in favour of going. Tony Blair, the PM himself has said in the Commons that he personally is against them going - but that the Government doesn't have the right to tell them what to do. The ECB (English Cricket Board) aren't fans of the idea of travelling there either.
SO, you may think, that's answered - England don't go then.
Not so.
The ICC have said that if England don't go, there may be serious fines imposed on the ECB or worse a total suspension from the sport for a year.
The ECB turn over is tiny to say the least - but 90% of it is from advertising and TV rights. Both Vodafone and Channel 4 will not pay up and so all that revenue will be lost. Bad? Worse when you consider all that money filters down to the counties who depserately need it. End result? The potential total collapse of English cricket.
Admittedly, this is a worse case scenario and many have suggested that England should call the ICC's bluff and refuse to go. Would the ICC ban England from international competition? In an Ashes year?

Personally, I think they should stay home. Mugabe gets right on my tits. Though I'm not sure how much harm the England cricket team not touring would do to him, or his standing.

[ScouseCat]

We've had similar decisions to make here in Australia in the last decade, with not playing in Sri Lanka in the 1996 World Cup and the issue with touring Zimbabwe.

Personally, the players safety is the most important thing as far as I'm concerned, and if it cannot be guaranteed then they should not tour.... simple.

[DoyleG]

Mugabe is betting the farm that England won't tour.

Let Mugabe down by not only touring, but kick Zimbabwean butt in the process.

[BhoysFC1995]

i say no.

a way of possibly getting around some sort of ban from the ICC could be the players deciding not to go (instead of ECB saying so). if all of the players decide against it, the ECB can't field a team. just like how the aussie MacGill has decided not to go, but this could some sort of team thing instead.

however, this is all being saidthinking that the players don't want to go though; who knows if thats the fact though.

i really see no way the ICC would ban england with the ashes being next year.

[ScouseCat]

With all the trouble in Zimbabwe over Heath Streak being sacked as captain and subsequently, 14 other players stood down for supporting Streak, it hardly seems worth the money and effort for Australia to tour later this month. The only interest will be to see how many wickets Shane Warne can get, how Glenn McGrath goes in his comeback and how many runs the batsman can belt from the 3rd rate Zimbabwe attack.

They could look at banning Zimbabwe from the Commonwealth, (similar to the ban imposed on South Africa all those years ago) until Robert Mugabe is removed from power.

It's hardly going to be good for the game of cricket to see what Australia will do to this rabble of a country!

[OldFanatic]

Bump. Move to cricket forum.

[Rick B]

Originally Posted by DoyleG

Mugabe is betting the farm that England won't tour.

Let Mugabe down by not only touring, but kick Zimbabwean butt in the process.

Well as we all know, England will play some one day matches in Zimbabwe and no tests. Hopefully the Zimbabweans will support their team like they did against Australia where the atmousphere was very good. The only Zim butt I want to kick is Mugabe's and im sure thats what DoyleG meant as well....

[johno]

Personally... and this may come out as racist... but its my opinion that its not that bad what is going on... it was done for years in the opposite direction with much worse consequnces... everyone should allow Zimbabwe to do as they see fit as long as they don't hurt anyone else they should be granted that liberty.