SPORTRITE - NZC's playing possum on Zimbabwe lacks substance

with Tim Eves
Not that a few atrocities haven't been committed on the home front, but until the United Front for the Liberation of Possums gains some serious international backing, or are the subject of an impassioned plea from a United Nations envoy, it is quite likely the campaign of terror will continue.
Clubs, spears, random poisons, packs of dogs, marauding gangs of youths, guns, machetes and the famous tyre necklace are all weapons that have either been tested in combat or alternatively are under serious consideration.
In true African dictator style, we have even resorted to using the presidential motorcade to run possums over if they deign to cross the path of the oncoming vehicles.
Hell, we might have even sped up once or twice.
The thing is, we are not preparing to host an international sports tournament for possums in the near future.
Despite the price of fuel being a bit of a worry, the rate of inflation is not hovering around the 1000 per cent mark, inhabitants at home aren't starving, living in fear (a relative statement) or suffering from third world diseases.
The same cannot be said for Zimbabwe.
And really, when it comes to Zimbabwe, and in particular the proposed New Zealand Cricket tour there in 2009, just what is everyone waiting for?
As in: Cancel the tour already!
Preferably by pigeon post with an acerbic statement attached about not wanting to play a bit of hit and giggle with supporters of a regime that is allegedly raping, murdering, burning, starving and subjugating their kin just, it seems, for the fun of it.
So far NZ Cricket have told us to be patient, explained that a decision not to tour would cost them a US$2 million fine and write the Black Caps into the record books as the first international cricket team that had arbitrarily refused to tour another country without political decree.
Considering some of the other records the Black Caps hold, this one might be worth chasing.
And anyway, here's me thinking that us `Keewees' were quite keen on thumbing our nose to issues like nuclear bullying, political tyrants and global warming.
It might be economically expedient for NZ Cricket chief executive Justin Vaughan to fend off questions about the tour in 2009 by saying the decision is not his, but for the International Cricket Council or alternatively the New Zealand Government to rule on. But that position lacks moral substance.
"We are a group of cricket administrators. We might have strong feelings about the situation in Zimbabwe, but judging international politics is not what we're about.
"There are other, far more qualified people to do that job, like politicians," Vaughan said.
True, he could do with some help here, in particular from our Prime Minister Helen Clark, who could just say ``No' and in one word ensure that all ICC penalties for abandoning a cricket tour are waived.
But then Vaughan would most likely turn around and say: "We would have if Helen hadn't."
Now where's the courage of conviction in that?
Compared to the possums around home, who keep making bold statements of defiance on the driveway despite the odds stacked against them, Vaughan's stance hardly stacks up.