Coltart tweets backing for ZC over Scotland move

New Zimbabwe.com

28 September 2010

SPORTS Minister David Coltart has taken to Twitter to give full backing to Zimbabwe Cricket’s unexpected decision to offer Scotland a pass to the final of the International Cricket Council’s Intercontinental Cup.

Scotland faced elimination after pulling out their fixture against a Zimbabwe XI in Harare following intervention by the British government which said: “We are firmly of the view that there has not yet been sufficient progress in Zimbabwe on the fundamental issues of political reform and of re-establishing the rule of law to justify sports tours by British teams and the positive signal that would send. We therefore strongly advise against such visits.”

But Zimbabwe – currently the second best side in the tournament with 72 points, while Scotland is third with 69 points — last week recommended to the ICC that Scotland be awarded full points for the cancelled fixture. The gesture would allow Scotland to leapfrog them and face section leaders Afghanistan in November’s final in Dubai.

Keen cricket fan Coltart said on his Twitter page: “Delighted by Zimbabwe Cricket decision to allow Scotland Cricket to play in the Intercontinental Final instead of them. Cricket 1 Politics 0.”

Explaining Zimbabwe’s decision, Zimbabwe Cricket’s managing director Ozias Bvute said: “The Associate Members countries use this and other competitions to benchmark and track their progress, which progress is important to them. To this end we feel that the I-Cup is a significant competition in Scotland’s development and therefore important that it gets the full benefits associated with playing in it.

“While Scotland’s decision not to tour has been attributed to political considerations, we as Zimbabwe Cricket are not qualified to comment on matters political of any country, nor would we want to base the future of the game of cricket on political directives.

“As such Zimbabwe has no dispute with either Cricket Scotland or the ICC. Instead, we seek only a solution that will ultimately allow for fair participation by all.”

Cricket Scotland has not commented on Zimbabwe’s gesture.