Sport | Cricket
Zimbabwe issue to have amicable solution
International Cricket Council President Mali insists final decision will be in the interest of cricket and not a political one.
- By K.R. Nayar, Senior Reporter
- Published: 00:08 July 2, 2008
Dubai: The International Cricket Council President Ray Mali is facing the biggest challenge of his tenure as President. The eyes of the cricketing world will be on Dubai as Zimbabwe's future in the ICC is decided.
"The Zimbabwe issue will come up for discussion tomorrow and I believe the issue will be resolved amicably," Mali told Gulf News.
"We will discuss the Zimbabwe issue and reach a decision that is in the interest of cricket," assured Mali, who will step down at the end of the ongoing conference for David Morgan to take over as the next President of the ICC.
When asked how he will tackle the mounting pressure from many nations to oust Zimbabwe, Mali said: "It is not about keeping Zimbabwe out of the ICC. Whatever conclusion we will make on the Zimbabwe issue it will be a cricketing decision.
"It is not going to be a political decision and whatever we do it will be in the interest of the game," assured Mali.
"Everything is going very well up to now. The Chief Executive Committee has discussed various issues and we also had meeting with the associates to discuss their matters," he said.
When asked whether the Zimbabwe issue, which has turned out to be last important decision he will have to make as President, has put a lot of pressure on him, Mali said: "I don't consider it as a pressure and for me it is a challenge and I am capable of resolving it."
Stern warning
Meanwhile, Peter Chingoka, the chairman of Zimbabwe Cricket, hit out at Mali. In a letter to him, Chingoka pointed out the issue had been discussed already: "You will recall that last year in London, a decision was taken and well supported by you and other members that sports and politics, like oil and water, do not mix."
"It is not going to be a political decision and whatever we do it will be in the interest of the game."
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