My fellow countrymen, Andy Flower and Henry Olonga (Feb 18 2003)

WHEN CRICKET IS TRULY CRICKET

We were touched to learn, from recent news media reports, about your commendably courage to exercise freedom of speech and expression before the start of your World Cup Cricket match in Harare.

Your courage and enthusiasm are truly inspirational.

It is a pity that the International Cricket Council (ICC) and some cricket bullies would like the world to believe that they can ‘legislate’ against freedom of speech and expression.

Why should a sporting body be concerned about ‘protecting’ tinpot dictators from the ‘threat’ of the expression of fundamental human rights?

Your human rights of speech and expression, and, in particular, that of the black arm bands that you have the inalienable right to wear, as an expression of sorrow for the dearth of democracy in our country and as a sensitive expression of solidarity with the victims of those whom the ICC and the cricket bullies seem to ‘protect,’ are simply not negotiable in a civilised world.

A letter against the ICC’s apparent insensitivity towards the Zimbabwean crisis has been forwarded, by me, to the ICC leadership.

By: Thabo Siziba