MCC World Cricket Committee statement on international playing standards

Date released: 15 May 2007

The MCC World Cricket committee, which met for the third time on Monday (14th May), believes that the standard of cricket played by Zimbabwe, a full member of the International Cricket Council (ICC) has deteriorated to such an extent that its Test and one-day international playing status should be permanently suspended until such time as the cricket infrastructure is rebuilt.

While it is not for the MCC World Cricket committee to make judgments on the politics of any particular country, the committee believes that the decline in the standard of cricket in Zimbabwe is directly related to the political situation there, and that an improvement is unlikely while the current regime is in place. The committee therefore welcomes the decision of the Australian government in preventing its cricket team from touring Zimbabwe later this year. Once the social unrest has been addressed, ICC should, by means of regular review and guidance, assist the Zimbabwe Cricket Union in rebuilding as a serious cricketing nation.

MCC's World Cricket committee comprises:
Tony Lewis (chairman)
Mike Atherton
Mike Brearley
Geoffrey Boycott
Martin Crowe
Tony Dodemaide
Rahul Dravid
Andy Flower
Mike Gatting
Majid Khan
Barry Richards
David Shepherd
Alec Stewart
Courtney Walsh
Steve Waugh