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West Indies A in Zimbabwe 2007

West Indies players refuse to tour Zimbabwe

Cricinfo staff

June 16, 2007

The West Indies Players' Association has said its players will not undertake an A-team tour of Zimbabwe next month as a result of concerns over safety and the continuing unstable political situation in the country.

A statement issued by WIPA said that the West Indies board had been advised that it had reached the decision "following intensive discussions with various stakeholders and likely selectees who have unanimously expressed deep concern about players' safety and the continuing volatile situation existing in that country".

"While we at WIPA acknowledge the importance of the development of cricket, we are, nevertheless, firmly of the view that the safety of players in an unsettled environment is of paramount importance."

"We have consulted with CARICOM (Caribbean Community and Common Market) and we have received assurances from the Zimbabwe board regarding player safety," Tony Deyal, the WICB's corporate secretary, told Cricinfo. "We also believe that we will be getting a guarantee from the Zimbabwe government.

"We have shared the information we have with WIPA and we would hope they share theirs with us. If they have information we don't have then we are prepared to review it." A meeting between the board and WIPA is likely in the next few days to try to resolve the situation.

Dinanath Ramnarine, WIPA's chief executive, said that he was sympathetic to the disappointment of those selected at the cancellation but that "we want to assure the board that we will give every consideration to a similar tour in more favourable circumstances". He added that many sources both inside and outside Zimbabwe had been consulted before the decision was reached.

There was more confusion when Bruce Aanensen, the WICB's chief executive officer, told the Trinidad & Tobago Express that the trip was on. "That is still the plan [for] the team to leave on June 30. We did not get the response from the Caribbean heads of government until Wednesday afternoon of last week.

"On receipt of that when we agreed that we could go ahead with the tour in so far as the heads of government were concerned, we sent out a proposal to WIPA, the terms and conditions of the tour and I am waiting on a response from WIPA at the moment to proceed with announcing the team for the tour."

Cricinfo understands that those likely to tour have been contacted by WIPA in advance of this decision, although WIPA has yet to be informed of the exact squad members even though the board seems to have been in touch with them individually.

The news will be a serious blow to Zimbabwe Cricket. It comes hot on the heels of the decision by the Australian government to ban their side from touring Zimbabwe, and less than a fortnight before the ICC meets to consider the restoration of Zimbabwe's Test status.

© Cricinfo