Obey ICC: Mandela
Posted: Thursday, February 6, 2003

By Robert Craddock, Fox News

FORMER South Africa president Nelson Mandela has weighed into the World Cup cricket crisis by declaring Australia must play its match in Zimbabwe.

As the Zimbabwe Cricket Union announced it would refuse to play any of its matches if they were switched to South Africa, Mandela urged Australia and England to go ahead with their games in crisis-torn Zimbabwe.

"They (Australia and England) must respect the International Cricket Council," Mandela said.

"If we refuse to follow the ICC we will introduce chaos to cricket. They have examined the matter and concluded it is safe. They know what is dangerous for cricketers. If they say cricketers should go to Zimbabwe, that is what they must do."

Though Mandela has no official role in the decision-making process, his iconic word as the first president of united South Africa still shapes the thinking of South African society.

The ICC has consistently maintained its security reports have provided no reason for the teams to cancel their matches in Zimbabwe. MORE 

Printer friendly version

Send page by E-Mail