The Telegraph
By Nick Hoult
2 July 2010
The MCC will send a fact-finding delegation to Zimbabwe with a view to reopening cricketing links following an appeal by Andy Flower, the England coach.
Flower addressed the MCC’s world cricket committee on Thursday, in the first of a two-day meeting at Lord’s, and updated them about the political and cricketing situation in his home country of Zimbabwe.
The committee, set up four years ago, has a remit to scrutinise all aspects of the sport, especially those that pertain to the laws and the spirit of cricket.
The MCC will now speak to the British government and conduct its own research into the cricketing infrastructure of Zimbabwe with a view to sending a team there on tour.
An English side have not played in Zimbabwe since 2004 and they voluntarily pulled out of last year’s World Twenty20 when it became clear the British government would not issue the team with visas. The new coalition government’s position on sporting links with Zimbabwe is unclear and the MCC will seek Foreign Office advice on the issue before sending a delegation to Harare.
“The political situation is fractious but the one person urging us to have a look is Andy Flower and we believe greatly in his judgments,” said Tony Lewis, the chairman of the committee.
“We feel unless we start an inquiry it would be too easy to let the situation freeze. It is very difficult for more established governing bodies to make the leap but with MCC’s independence and global reach, it is easier for us to go and look, find out and recommend. We don’t run cricket but can act as Polyfilla in tricky situations.”
Zimbabwe retain full voting rights within the International Cricket Council despite their Test status lapsing four years ago. In recent months there have been several steps to reintegrate them into the mainstream with David Coltart, the Zimbabwe sports minister, holding talks with governments in New Zealand and Australia.
Zimbabwe also hope to send an A-team to Australia next year.