MCC wants Zimbabwe suspended

The MCC has supported the move by the Australian Government to boycott their tour to Zimbabwe later this year and has called for their suspension from international cricket.

Earlier this week the Australian Government took the extraordinary step of banning the Australian side from touring Zimbabwe later in the year for their scheduled three match ODI series.

The move was supported by the Marylebone Cricket Club who called for Zimbabwe to be suspended from international cricket, in a statement released today.

“The MCC world cricket committee, which met for the third time on Monday, believes the standard of cricket played by Zimbabwe, a full member of the International Cricket Council , has deteriorated to such an extent that its Test and one-day international playing status should be permanently suspended until such time as the cricket infrastructure is rebuilt,” the statement read.

“While it is not for the MCC world cricket committee to make judgments on the politics of any particular country, the committee believes the decline in the standard of cricket in Zimbabwe is directly related to the political situation there, and that an improvement is unlikely while the current regime is in place.

“The committee, therefore, welcomes the decision of the Australian government in preventing its cricket team from touring Zimbabwe later this year. Once the social unrest has been addressed, ICC should, by means of regular review and guidance, assist the Zimbabwe Cricket Union in rebuilding as a serious cricketing nation.”

Australia’s unofficial offer to hold the series at a neutral venue was rejected by Zimbabwe officials earlier in the week meaning the tour will not go ahead in any form.