ICC says tour can only be pulled if made illegal

Former Zimbabwe cricketer Henry Olonga, right, met Foreign Affairs Minister Phil Goff at Parliament today. Picture / Fotopress

The New Zealand Government would have to make the Black Caps tour of Zimbabwe illegal for New Zealand Cricket to be freed from penalties.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) today clarified its position on the tour after a statement it released yesterday raised the possibility of an alternative way of stopping the tour.

New Zealand Cricket faces millions of dollars in penalties if it pulls out of the planned tour to Zimbabwe voluntarily and as a result has said the tour must go ahead.

Yesterday, ICC president Ehsan Mani said the council would not change its policy but then raised hope by saying the organisation accepted and respected when a government made a "clear directive" and imposed sporting sanctions.

Today, Mr Mani said the tour must go ahead unless the Government made it illegal.

When a government did not legally prevent its cricket team from playing against another country, the cricket board would still be expected to fulfil its obligations under the future tours plan (FTP).

"The FTP is the basis on which cricket around the world is able to function and it underpins the health of the game," Mr Mani said.

"All of our members understand this and work within the legal frameworks of their countries to fulfil their obligations."

Mr Mani said England's tour of Zimbabwe last year was a good example.

"The UK Government did not provide any such legally binding directive and the England and Wales Cricket Board fulfilled its commitment to tour.

"The ICC's members agree that it is the responsibility of governments to provide a legal framework in which sport within their countries must operate."

The Greens had proposed a bill that would make the tour illegal but the Government is opposed to this saying it infringed on New Zealanders' rights to travel.

Opposition to the tour is intense as the government of Zimbabwe president Robert Mugabe bulldozes the houses of people who oppose it leaving hundreds of thousands homeless.

Mr Goff said this morning that Labour had opposed Mugabe's regime for years and while he understood public opposition to the tour he did not think stopping the tour should be at the expense of New Zealanders' own freedom.

The Government has sanctions against Zimbabwe and will refuse visas for its team to visit here later in the year.

Public meetings and a march have been planned to oppose the tour and the Green Party has brought former Zimbabwe cricketer Henry Olonga to New Zealand to highlight the issue. Olonga met Mr Goff today.

The Government had been sceptical that there would be a way out of the tour.

"We aren't particularly surprised to read of this clarification," a spokesman for Mr Goff said.

"We always presumed the wording of a legal, binding contract would hold more sway over a press statement or letter."

A meeting to clarify the issue between Mr Mani and the New Zealand High Commissioner in London would go ahead on Friday morning London time.

- NZPA