LBW Lives Before Wickets
It was very interesting to read recently that the Australian government led by "smiling" John Howard has banned its world cup winning cricket team from touring Zimbabwe later this year. The Zimbabweans are not happy of course, insisting to anybody that cares to listen, that politics and sport should not mix.
And of course they shouldn"t, which got me thinking just what else shouldn"t mix for fear of gumming up the works. Well for a start grubby little tin pot dictators shouldn"t mix with starving kids, violent despots should definitely not mix with opposition politicians who have a different point of view, and corrupt governments should on no account mix with parents who have no food, no work and absolutely no human or civil rights. The argument from the Zimbabwe Cricket Board I suppose is that their people are so starved - not only of food, but of basic human dignity too - that they should be entitled to enjoy a cricket fest in order to put a little enjoyment into their lives. What shameful drivel!
No, the Aussies have the right idea. They know, like the rest of the world what"s going on there, recognise the desperation of the people and have taken the initiative whereas here, our government shy away from similar action preferring instead to leave the decision to the English cricket authorities which is a disgraceful abdication of humane responsibility. Every day children and babies die from malnutrition while their uncles, fathers and brothers are dragged away into detention centres for "questioning", but that"s ok as long as the Zimbabwean cricket authorities can do their deals in corporate hospitality tents, pick up a nice little cheques from the TV companies and carry on as though nothing is wrong.
Cricket is a game, there are winners and there are losers, while on the other hand, staying alive is much more serious than that. In life you can"t play for a draw; you have to go out to win at all costs, but sadly in Zimbabwe the only winner is Mugabe, while the rest of the people, the ones that once put their trust and faith in him, finish up like their national cricket team. Badly beaten.
Cricket Australia denies talk of Champions Trophy pullout - Expressindia.com
Sky News Cricket Australia denies talk of Champions Trophy pullout Expressindia.com, India - Karachi, August 20: Cricket Australia on Wednesday denied reports that it had pulled out of the Champions Trophy in Pakistan, saying it was still waiting ... Cricket Australia awaits ICC meeting Cricket : NZC keeping quiet over Champions Trophy Tour a matter for cricket bosses - Smith -