The Zimbabwe cricket stand-off: what morality?
Posted on Jun 29, 2008 by Scorpicity |The buzz in world cricket is now on Zimbabwe with some nations primarily led by the ECB leading a vote towards getting them stripped out of their ICC elite panel membership and cutting the much needed funding for the growth of their cricket if there is any such thing.
From the administrators of the game, sports journalists to players like Atherton and Gower, the call for the crucial support of India and the rest of Asia for this referendum has primarily been the voice in the media with the spotlight on India having to look beyond being selfish on money and power and do this for the sake of humanity and morality.
So what morality are they talking about seriously? Yes the current political regime is bad and there is a genocide coupled with large scale corruption that has left an already fragile nation in tatters. But then if morality is the word today, why should any nation then have any cricket or moral political ties with England itself, who as the sidekicks of another associate nation, the United states of Apathy, have done no less in their exploits in Afghanistan and critically Iraq with the flimsiest of excuses and with no shame or impunity.
Where does this morality stand for the millions and millions of people slaughtered in Iraq, where an everyday law abiding, educated tax paying citizen have to live with a mere 30 minutes of water supply and electricity in a day and rationed fuel! How come nothing is done when several developing nations around the world are crippled under the huge price rise of fuel largely due to the exploits and plunder of these nations in the middle east to create instability. How come there is no move to strip the US of its associate status or funding under moral grounds for their gross human rights violations in Gauntanamo bay? Sounds like a clear case of the have’s and have not’s.
If morality then is only a question of what affects their citizens especially their expatiates living in nations like Zimbabwe, it sounds hollow to rake this as a reason for other member nations to look beyond power or money and act on morality. Morality my foot! Morality is only another form of politics!
While it may be debatable and wise to consider not having Zimbabwe as part of the elite panel of cricketing nations, I am still wondering if it makes sense whatsoever to cut their funding. The fact of the matter is these administrators are employed to solve these issues and it is obvious that they did nothing in the last 8 years when arguably the situation was not this bad. Other than cutting funding, what alternative financial solutions did they come up with in terms of funds regulation and distribution.
There is a definite need for a significantly higher contribution in funding to be distributed to the smaller cricketing associate nations and that is not happening. Take the classic case of Ireland in the world cup where the issues they faced on administration was an absolute shocker. When Ireland qualified for the next round which they were not expected to, there were hardly any funds to support their extended stay. You can read more about this on the Sledgers and sandbaggers blog.
The point here is there is too much dependency on nations from Asia to supply the money and it is ridiculous that the other nations don’t care about trying to change their policies to generate some funds. If nations like England are going to forever pick and choose which tours to undertake and skip in the name of political backing or morality and escape the ICC loophole of a whopping fine for skipping a tour in case of a political directive, where are these smaller nations going to make any money and where is there going to be any interest in the general local public which is critical for the growth of the game in the region. There is already a talk on the English players on not wanting to participate in the Champions trophy in Pakistan. Reminds me of an old Prodigy song called “fire starter”.
If these nations are really bothered about the wellness of cricket or whatever morality they want to talk about, let them tour and help cricket. Let them tour and generate money and local interest. No amount of Shakespearean style classical quotes on morality and high ground is going to change anything.
By the way, did you know that Mugabe was actually bestowed an honorary knighthood by the queen of England some time back!
by Som, on June 29 2008 @ 3:56 pm
Scorpicity, spot on. You can’t probably defend Mugabe and Co but see the hypocracy among certain people. Lo and behold! morally bankrupt bunch is spreading gospels!
by Som, on June 29 2008 @ 9:22 pm
Scorpicity, see the hypocrisy! See who’s preaching the gospel. Where was the custodians of morality when their queen feted Mugabe?
by Wasim, on June 29 2008 @ 9:38 pm
Welcome back and Well Said Scorpy:
The world has always been a might is right society, Politics and sports should any ways be kept separate.Politics divide us and sports bring us together.
All the dictators in the world and their atrocities get legitmized only if they work for these big powers.
by Homer, on June 30 2008 @ 9:00 am
Of course it is about morality - the kind which comes with hiding behind government bail outs to avoid paying 2 million dollars as penalty for failing to tour Zimbabwe.
And the kind where getting rid of Zimbabwe from the ICC all but ensures that the World Cup Twnety20 will be held in England and not moved to some other place.
Did someone say money - but thats the Indian prerogative.. Good clean CA and ECB are above that!
Cheers
by scorpicity, on June 30 2008 @ 1:51 pm
Halo SOm… how r you doing… they recently revoked the honour for Mugabe… how times change
by scorpicity, on June 30 2008 @ 1:52 pm
Hey wasim… only if they work for the big powers LOL… I see what you mean… cheers
by scorpicity, on June 30 2008 @ 1:54 pm
Interesting info Homer… for the ECB that could be a valid point behind the veil of maya… ona gneral note there is a huge outcry there from the general public something similar to what happens to Nris abroad when they are in trouble.
by Straight Point, on June 30 2008 @ 2:21 pm
its very complicated issue ‘Mr India’…
on one hand you read today’s news on TOI that they are not even sparing the infant of opposition lady…and on other hand there is cricket we all love…
but i think it will serve them good if for time being we wait things to get stabilize in ZIM (if ever?) coz even if you pump in the money how one will guarantee that with state of current setup in zim it will be spend wisely…
by Rob, on June 30 2008 @ 2:59 pm
It is good to see people putting the other side of the argument.
by scorpicity, on June 30 2008 @ 3:00 pm
Thats true SP… similar shit is happening in the middle east… am just irked on the request to act for morality which is baseless. That country is not a failed state like afghanistan or Iraq… there are no militia people roaming around in the streets shooting down and looting totally unafraid of the government… so its a bit different. What is cricket to do in the scheme of things is something noone wants to address.
by Naked Cricket, on June 30 2008 @ 3:20 pm
What’s A Flower up to these days? Shame about Zim cricket is they got screwed when they were good enough to compete with most teams - and now you see a guy like Goodwin wasted in the ICL.
by Ottayan, on June 30 2008 @ 4:11 pm
Scorpi,
Extreme views. However, I am with you on the morality question.
by Park, on June 30 2008 @ 6:51 pm
While I can see that there are conflicting issues with Britain’s stance on Iraq versus Zimbabwe I am not sure that it can’t be argued on morality grounds. Just because the stance may be hypocritical because of other circumstances doesn’t make it wrong.
Zimbabwean cricket is a basket case run by cronies of a corrupt government. It has been given support to sort itself out but hasn’t. Players have been driven out, both black and white that have criticised the administration. Players such Taibu and Henry Olongo been exiled from their nation. Zimbabwe demands as much action as South Africa did under the Apartheid system.
by vmminerva, on June 30 2008 @ 10:18 pm
Some very bold words, Scorpy, and spot on with the morality question. There always seem to be double-standards with some things isn’t there?
by scorpicity, on June 30 2008 @ 11:08 pm
NC..aflower is now the assistant coach of England… what a player and what a sad case of someone who could have reached bigger heights.
by scorpicity, on June 30 2008 @ 11:13 pm
Halo Rob… don’t get me wrong… this is not a post to support Zimbabwe as such… my views are pretty much in line though am looking at better ideas been thrown in rather than just cutting and playing sulk. It’s more on the position of morality and definition.
by scorpicity, on June 30 2008 @ 11:14 pm
Otts… I think so far you understood this post the best… it is specifically on the morality talk and not whether Zimbabwe is right or wrong or anything on those lines. There are many totally failed states playing cricket for the world cup qualifiers… and I really mean totally failed states which at this point Zimbabwe is not. It is strange to see cricket and politics not being mixed with respect to those (created) failed states and voila! be mixed in the case of Zimbabwe.
The ICC taking a stand whatever that may be is fine but the request is to make it consistent… otherwise everything looks like a bunch of confused fools putting together some cheap short-term policies with no purpose other than political mileage.
by scorpicity, on June 30 2008 @ 11:35 pm
Welcome park to cricketfizz..
Am all for taking action against Zimbabwe but not for totally throwing them into the sewers and cutting their funding. At the end of the day, as it stands today it is still not a ‘failed state’, whereas Afghanistan which is a ‘failed state’ is playing for the world cup qualifiers ironically. Cricket needs more money for these smaller associate nations. Am merely taking a poke at this morality talk which some of the British folks are giving to other nations to act upon. All right then, define morality and bingo yardsticks are not the same so what morality!
by Park, on July 1 2008 @ 5:43 am
Thanks for the welcome, Scorpicity.
It is interesting to get alternate views on international situations. I would say on any objective measures Zimbabwe would have to be a failed state worse than Afghanistan and Iraq now.
Knowing where to draw a line in the sand over countries where human rights are violated is very difficult. England’s position is not to make life more difficult or punish the people or cricketers of Zimbabwe but to internationally isolate the ruling elite.
It comes to the point where if continued funding is propping up the administration, why not withdraw funding? Things are getting worse in Zimbabwe, not better, is it better to accelerate change to stop a continuing tragedy?
ICC funding should not be given without certain development goals being met by administrators.
by RS, on July 1 2008 @ 7:30 am
It is always hilarious how some countries can talk about morality/doing the right thing with a straight face. They may have been better off suspending Zimbabwe for financial irregularities. From what I have read the money does not reach the domestic players who are supplementing their income by illegal means. And the boards supporting Zimbabwe (like the BCCI) are not really doing it for any altruistic purpose either, are they?
by scorpicity, on July 1 2008 @ 10:38 pm
Park… no its not just about alternative views on International situations… in case of Zimbabwe, I am largely with the international views. The same way I find this ironically no different with respect to England and US. My stand is bingo on the head with RS on his comment. Morality is only another form of politics in the world scenario today, which ever side of the coin you look at it. It was hilarious and idiotic to watch a few nations say it with a straight face pointing towards other nations to act when there are far bigger bones hidden under their own closet if the same yardsticks are used. Countries like India with the BCCI are no different in their intentions.
As for funding… this issue has been raging in the ICC for the last 8 plus years. Other than neo-classical statements nothing constructive, not even a genuine attempt ever came out. When the issue was not as bad as this a few years back, some stricter direct fund distribution and monitoring could have nipped the issue with respect to the players. As for England, for every tour they want to undertake to Asia, there is always a threat of a pull-out or no show. No action gets taken against them because they use the ICC loophole very well. The impact it has on advertisers who are uncertain and also need time to invest translates into lesser funds. In short, where is England the birth place of cricket, helping it in any way! In a way it is too different issues just to put the record straight.
by scorpicity, on July 1 2008 @ 10:41 pm
I agree RS hands down… the BCCI are no different. As for the problems in Zimbabwean cricket specifically, it is a case of compounded interest problemwise. When it is small, you fail to act until it snowballs… somehow as in every political case, one guy’s problems is another’s boon.
by scorpicity, on July 2 2008 @ 10:14 pm
Folks… the ICC did a back-flip… http://content-ind.cricinfo.com/ci-icc/content/current/story/359240.html
Anyway, my point is this is exactly the way or manner this issue has to be addressed not political morality but hard dialogues to get the cricket development and fund robbing issue sorted out and yes, brainstorm on alternative solutions to handle the same.
This at least sounds better than some morality bullshit which is meaningless, because the word or the context of morality can only be one way… either there is morality or you have none… there are no half measures, or percentage morality.
by UTP, on July 2 2008 @ 10:48 pm
Does anybody have one single idea why? I just dont get it. You are trying to find as many cricket playing nations as possible and just because ECB has issues, they are able to shun them off. Just so unfair.
Zimbabwe has produced some great players and have potential to more. The ICC should support them.
by Wasim, on July 3 2008 @ 1:19 am
SP
What about the millions killed in Iraq and Afghanistan all bcz some big powers were in a mood for adventure.
What about all those lies about WMD’s?
Nobody is endorsing the atrocities in Zimbabwe all we are trying to say is that sports and politics should be kept separate. It makes me sick to the stomach when the Brits talk about morality and human rights.Its just like a cat going on a holy pilgimage after killing 900 mice.
Somebody above wrote that the players were not getting what they deserved because the ZCB is corrupt so do you think that by taking away everything from those players you have found a solution to the problem.Its just a pretext to enforce political agenda.We all know corruption can be dealt through financial audit and its follow up.
What about the corruption being carried on in Iraq by the British and American multi nationals.
What about breeding conficts in Africa and selling weapons to rebel armies, what about financing and arming the groups who deal in blood diamonds.
I don’t want to hear the word morality coming out of the mouth of a Brit it stinks.
by Park, on July 3 2008 @ 7:40 am
Scorp,
If I understand you correctly.
1. England and the US have acted immorally in relation to Iraq and Afghanistan. Therefore they can not act(or should not) with any moral authority with regard to any other country.
2. You are either 100% moral or you are 100% immoral.
3. Zimababwe cricket is best served in the long term by keeping the current administration in place and funded and trying to arm twist/convince them to modify their behaviour. Their continued international status as a non-Test playing first tier nation should be maintained.
Does this sum up your position?
by ankit, on July 3 2008 @ 9:45 am
morality and high ground coming from a traditionally imperialist nation.
morality and high ground coming from a recent ally to another imperialist nation.
do i hear sneering from you or is it just me?
by ankit, on July 3 2008 @ 9:49 am
another thought,
Zimbabwe is invited to the Olympics, does participate in every major tournament of every other sport,
is this another piece of bull’s biological waste on gentlemen s game?
by Indian Cricket, on July 3 2008 @ 2:13 pm
Hey thanks like a true cricket lower. I would like to contribute to your love by sharing indiancricketleague.com which has issues of your interest.
by scorpicity, on July 3 2008 @ 9:12 pm
Heloo there UTP… long time since I caught up… how r things. Yes, that would be a precise reason why they should try harder… they invested in them for so long… there are many quality players that have come out of the system.
by scorpicity, on July 3 2008 @ 9:26 pm
Whoa wasim… u seem to have hit a nerve… never seen you so worked up… you got a point… The point that many countries do not want a solution because it works in their overall political favour… hence no alternative administrative ideas and therefore only a single extreme solution.
Though I would leave out actual politics other than cricket away from this site… I can take it in the context of their new media propaganda.
by scorpicity, on July 3 2008 @ 10:52 pm
Hello park,
First of all I would like to really appreciate and thank you for your keen interest and participation in this debate. I would really like to see more of you here and if you do write in your blog, do let me know the details…. it is nice to exchange different points of view.
This is a long explanation… almost like a post :).
First on the background of this post here… it is a reaction to the British media propaganda with respect to cricket on this issue. Specifically an influx of columns written by ex-cricketers and sports journalist, whose stance is along the lines of demeaning other countries to stop being selfish and act as a human, moral nation. Basically, people addressing this to others from a superior holier than thou perspective in their ‘language and tone’. The irony pointed out here is on what basis do these countries act… if this is the yardstick then these countries themselves don’t satisfy it. Media popular propaganda is everywhere… take the way the British media with the same parties lambasted the IPL and how such money will ruin cricket, all of a sudden starts talking about impoverished English cricketers that would benefit from the Standford ruckus which is 10 times bigger than the IPL in terms of money and with the least of effort… a winner takes all lottery ticket.
I had pasted a recent link from cricinfo on the ICC back flip. Addressing this issue on these lines sound sensible, not demeaning and clearly opens out some problem areas that can be addressed. The communication aspects will have a better impact if implemented along these lines. The morality talk was too hypocritical and was basically lay man propaganda.
On your points,
They can address it and they should address it wholeheartedly including their pitfalls. So the best way to address it is to deal with the issue straight and not from an holier than thou perspective. They are not.
Yes you are either 100% moral ‘on an issue’ or you are not. If the yardsticks are the same, you cannot say one problem is more moral than the other because at the end of the day, human rights violation are still enforced by the accuser and the accused. So for someone outside the spectrum, it means nothing. One thing you need to understand is that there is no morality in foreign policies… morality is often the cover. When large scale genocide was happening in many parts of Africa, the big political super powers did nothing for almost a decade. Why? Morality costs “money”! There is no return on investment here. In the same scenario, if their stakeholders are involved… their expatriates, MNCs, natural resources, there is some action… and the action is described as acting morally behind the finances. It is a beautiful relationship in political science and the world’s oldest know political propaganda.
Your third point is actually my biggest criticism of the ICC and not the solution. The fundamental issue which has made this snowball… do nothing which the ICC has done well! For well over 8 years, there has only been one ’solution’… ban them destroy them… that’s not a solution… that is an action… the highest action.
Come up with alternative ideas… that would monitor fund deployment and stricter control, if necessary even direct implementation. Arm-twist them there. If the alternatives don’t work, you do the inevitable action of packing them home. The question is why has there not been a single idea so far on an alternative. Because it works to the advantage of some countries due to their policies. Are you trying? No.. they don’t want to try.
Zimbabwe is playing other sports. How come there is no such situation there. It is a question of the stakeholders and their diversity and power.
To me the solution now is to try and address this issue from alternative management and administration. If it works, well and good otherwise take hard decisions. On a simple note, if the ICC gives them 2 million for cricket, there is or maybe the situation now (which can be controlled), that a million goes to Mugabe but most certainly not the entire 2 million (which is not possible or happening today). At least with that 1 million some part of cricket can still live! And now you have a smaller sum to deal with for a solution… an administrative solution.
Is this about cricket in Zimbabwe or politics in Zimbabwe. There is no clarity isn’t it.
by scorpicity, on July 3 2008 @ 10:56 pm
Hello Ankit…. welcome to cricketfizz… that’s an interesting piece of info.. thxs
by scorpicity, on July 3 2008 @ 11:06 pm
Welcome Indian cricket… hope to see more of you.. cheers
by Commonfan, on July 4 2008 @ 8:01 am
Guys Zimbabwe might be truant nation but atleast they are not trying to use their cricket as a propoganda machine - their cricketers are merely trying to survive and keep the game alive. The regime will have no issues if they lose their ICC status.
Why dont these countries first do something about China and the Olympics first - especially India and England - two of the most gutless nations in the world. And we all know what the Olympics mean for the men who run China. Atleast doing something about the Olympics will hit the real culprits behind China’s human rights record and other sins.
by Soulberry, on July 15 2008 @ 7:12 am
Brilliant argument Scorpi, lucid and to the point.
Not a mew against China for too obvious reasons. Not a mew at their own dirty collars, again for very obvious reasons.
by scorpicity, on July 18 2008 @ 8:04 pm
Hi Avnish… how r things with you… good point the regime will not have any issues at all.
by scorpicity, on July 18 2008 @ 8:05 pm
So the zimbabwe fiasco is solved… so called solved… for england it was all about the 20-20 championship… collectively for the ICC, they continue to do nothing constructive about Zimbabwe… As for India, the power brokering is on.
by scorpicity, on July 18 2008 @ 8:06 pm
Hi Soulberry… and welcome back… had a good break? As for me I longer can actively blog… once a week maybe… will catch up with all the blogs this weekend… cheers
by scorpicity, on July 18 2008 @ 10:51 pm
if anybody wants to debate these facts they can head to my good friend homer’s blog ‘my two cents’ on my blogroll loaded with actual facts to understand why all this ruckus is absolute bullshit.
by UTP, on July 19 2008 @ 2:14 pm
Boy scorpicity, you surely know how to keep a topic alive…for so many days…this topic has been there for almost a month…
by scorpicity, on July 21 2008 @ 2:35 pm
Hi UTP… this site is slowly going down… finding less and less time to think of a post… since not many updates… will try a once a week routine at least… cheers