Peter Chingoka, the chairman of the Zimbabwe Cricket Union (ZCU), has welcomed the decision taken by the ICC Executive Board to adopt a stronger Regulation governing touring agreements between member countries.
Speaking at the conclusion of the two-day Executive Board meeting in Auckland, New Zealand, Mr Chingoka said: ‘The Board’s decision to adopt a binding new Regulation to protect the integrity of the Future Tours Programme is a powerful endorsement of the position the ZCU has maintained in the impasse with the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) over England’s tour to Zimbabwe.’
At the Board meeting a substantial majority of the directors and chairmen of the Test playing and Associate member countries of the ICC voted to adopt a Regulation which upgrades the formal understanding on which touring agreements are reached. Countries which fail to abide by the terms of the new Regulation risk substantial fines and possible sanctions from the ICC.
‘This new Regulation sends a clear message from the international cricket community to the ECB that it should honour its pledge to tour Zimbabwe later this year. The West Indies has visited our country in recent months, Bangladesh is currently on tour and both Sri Lanka and Australia have recently confirmed their intention to tour, as well as expressed their satisfaction with the safety and security measures we have put in place,’ said Peter Chingoka.
‘ECB chairman David Morgan confirmed to the ICC Board that England has no concern at this time with security in Zimbabwe and that his Board has not yet reached a decision on the tour. Therefore, unless England can demonstrate a powerful and persuasive case of force majeure that was not evident at the Board meeting, we expect that they will now agree to tour, as required by the terms of the new ICC Regulation,’ said Mr Chingoka.
ZCU media contacts:
In Auckland:
Peter Chingoka
ZCU Chairman
Room 2708, Crowne Plaza Hotel,
Tel: + 64 9302 1111
In Harare:
Vince Hogg
Managing Director
Zimbabwe Cricket Union
Tel: + 263 4704 616