The International Cricket Council today announced that its Security Delegation will arrive in Zimbabwe on 26 November 2002, to begin a three day inspection of the security arrangements and preparations ahead of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2003.
The delegation headed by ICC Chief Executive, Malcolm Speed, will be reviewing security arrangements for all teams scheduled to play in Zimbabwe during the ICC CWC 2003, to ensure that any real or perceived security concerns held by the countries playing in Zimbabwe are identified and addressed.
The ICC delegation will include:
- The Chief Executive of the Australian Cricket Board (ACB), Mr James Sutherland;
- The Honorary Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Mr SK Nair;
- The Chief Executive of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), Mr Tim Lamb;
- Director of the ICC's commercial partner, Global Cricket Corporation (GCC), Mr Ian Frykberg;
- Team Manager of the Koninklijke Nederlanse (Holland) Cricket Board (KCB), Mr Hans Mulder;
- The President of the Namibian Cricket Board (NCB), Mr Laurie Pieters;
- Director of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Mr Chishty Mujahid;
- Chief Executive of the Zimbabwe Cricket Union (ZCU), Mr Vince Hogg; and
- The Joint Chief Executive of the Federation of International Cricket Associations (FICA), Mr Tim May;
The delegation will also be accompanied by security and insurance experts.
ICC President, Malcolm Gray, stressed that the only issues to be considered by the ICC would be security and safety for the teams and officials in Zimbabwe.
"The ICC and its members are only concerned with cricket related issues," said Mr Gray.
"The political issues surrounding Zimbabwe are matters for politicians. While some countries have imposed specific sanctions on Zimbabwe, no government in any part of the world has identified sporting sanctions as an appropriate tool to achieve a political outcome.
"Zimbabwe has competed in the recent Commonwealth Games, is taking part in the Davis Cup and its players continue to represent their country in golf.
"Each ICC Member scheduled to play in Zimbabwe has committed to playing there subject to satisfactory resolution of any safety and security concerns.
"It is these issues that the delegation will focus on."
Prominent Zimbabwe cricketer Heath Streak has already strongly supported the games being played in his country.
"I'm hopeful the matches will go ahead as planned and I believe it's very important they do. Taking the games away would be financially devastating for our cricket," he said recently, emphasizing that the country was safe for all teams.
"There's certainly no problem in Zimbabwe at the moment - the security is absolutely fine. All our families are there - we certainly don't have any problems and we're confident the six group matches will go ahead in Zimbabwe."
The delegation will assemble in Harare on 26 November and spend the next three days in both Harare and Bulawayo meeting with:
- Zimbabwean cricket officials;
- the High Commission and Consular officials from the various countries, and
- Police and security forces in charge of safety and security arrangements.
Following the visit, the delegation will prepare a report within 10 days recommending the appropriate course of action of the ICC in relation to the World Cup matches scheduled for Zimbabwe.
The ICC Board will consider this report and decide on any recommendation.
ICC media contact:
Brendan McClements
General Manager - Corporate Affairs
International Cricket Council
Ph + 44 (0) 207 266 7913
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