Australia PM bans cricket tour

Australian Prime Minister John Howard has called off the national cricket team's planned tour of Zimbabwe.The Australian government had previously revealed plans to o scrap the tour in protest over President Robert Mugabe's regime.Howard said he had instructed Foreign Minister Alexander Downer to contact Cricket Australia to tell them the planned one-day series in September would be cancelled.A letter sent to Chief Executive of Cricket Australia James Sutherland, read: "I am writing to express the Australian Government's deep concerns about the appalling situation in Zimbabwe and to direct Cricket Australia not to proceed with the Australian cricket team's tour to Zimbabwe planned for September 2007."It continues: "The government is prepared to take action to prevent the tour occurring and if necessary I am prepared to invoke my powers under the Australian Passports Act 2005 to prevent Australian cricketers from travelling to Zimbabwe."When asked about the legal basis of such a proposed act, PM John Howard, said: "It pains me both as a cricket lover and as somebody who generally believes these things should be left of sporting organisations to head a government that is giving instructions and is willing to enforce that instruction if necessary although all of that pain to me I don't think we have an alternative,"Howard said he had spoken to Australia captain Ricky Ponting in Sydney on the day the side returned from their victorious World Cup campaign and also to players' association representatives.He said he felt the decision was what the players wanted."I don't think it is fair to leave a foreign policy decision of this magnitude on the shoulders of young sportsmen. It is much better in the end for the government to take the rap and we are taking the wrap and we are taking the responsibility for it, it is our decision and we are making that very clear," he said.Cricket Australia Chief Executive James Sutherland said while he accepted the government's responsibility to make decisions about international relationships, his organisation would need time to assess the implications of a pullout.The government said earlier in the week that it would indemnify Cricket Australia against any financial losses incurred as a result of cancelling the tour, estimated to be around 2.4 million Australian dollars.Zimbabwe is still recognised by the ICC, though the sport's ruling body has withdrawn the side's test status.Countries that refuse to tour the African state can be sanctioned but Australian leg-spinner Stuart MacGill lodged a personal protest in 2004.Shortly after his announcement, Australia's tour was cancelled and no fines were imposed.Later that year, England's planned tour of the country was also postponed after the ICC took away Zimbabwe's test status.© Independent Television News Limited 2007. All rights reserved.

ITN | May 13, 2007

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