CRICKET CRISIS

Labour Government fails Cricketers over Zimbabwe.

Hugh Robertson has accused the government of dithering over England's World Cup cricket matches in Zimbabwe and branded their lack of leadership "an utter disgrace".

Hugh, a playing member of the MCC, said: "It is appalling that the government has failed to show any leadership over this issue. It is a decision for them, not the English Cricket Board or individual players.

"Mugabe is a tyrant, in the same league as the leaders of Iraq and North Korea, who has murdered and tortured thousands of his own subjects and is directly responsible for widespread famine and poverty. He has destroyed the breadbasket of Southern Africa, causing death and misery in equal measure.

"It would be totally abhorrent to allow him to host such a prestigious event as the Cricket World Cup."The government has consistently failed to take any action about Mugabe and it is preposterous now to duck the issue. The English Cricket Board is in an impossible position. To do what is clearly right would leave them with a bill of over £1 million.

"The government should cancel the matches if necessary on security grounds, persuade the International Cricket Council to relocate Zimbabwe's fixtures to South Africa and finally bring some leadership to bear over the situation.

"Their conduct has been an utter disgrace."