Letter to the Editor from BBC Sports
Tue, Jan 14, '03
Dear Sir,
I write with reference to the story 'WICB Official Denies BBC Quotes' which is currently on your site.
Our original story was written in good faith on the basis of copy supplied to us by the Press Association, who are acknowledged as Britain's leading sports news agency and supply media outlets all over the country.
This is the copy sent out by PA:
ENGLAND URGED TO PLAY IN ZIMBABWE
Leading personalities in the Caribbean have urged England not to boycott their fixture in Zimbabwe at the World Cup next month.
The England and Wales Cricket Board and Government officials are scheduled to meet later today to make a decision on a boycott as a protest against human rights abuses by the Robert Mugabe government.
But Jamaica Minster of Sports Portia Simpson-Miller has come out against any disruption during the World Cup. She said: "It is unfortunate that the England Cricket Board and the government are meeting to take a decision on whether or not the England team will play in Zimbabwe."
"I really would not like to see a disruption in the schedule of the games in the World Cup. I hope that something can be worked out that will enable English cricketers to play their games in Zimbabwe."
And acting Chief Executive Officer of the West Indies Cricket Board Roger Brathwaite echoed the same sentiments. "Any decision not to allow teams to play their scheduled games in Zimbabwe would punish the Zimbabwean population for something that they have no control over," Brathwaite said.
"I really hope that a decision will not be made to boycott the games in Zimbabwe.''
Two West Indian players have also come out in favour of the fixture taking place. Opening batsman Wavel Hinds, who was the vice-captain of the Test team on the recent tour of Bangladesh, said: "I would love the spectators in Zimbabwe to be a part of the World Cup and boycotting games in that country would rob them of an opportunity to do so. I don't think boycotting the games in Zimbabwe is the proper way to go.''
And Windies wicketkeeper Ridley Jacobs, who skippered the team in Bangladesh, agreed with Hinds. "I am not in support of a boycott of the games in Zimbabwe by any team," Jacobs said. "A decision to boycott some of the games in Zimbabwe would significantly affect the quality of the World Cup and I don't think any country that is down to participate in the World Cup, wants that.
"I hope that there is no decision to boycott games in that country." (PA International)
I have e-mailed Mr. Brathwaite of the West Indies Cricket Board to make our position clear and instructed our technical team to remove the story from our database.
Paul Grunill
Cricket Editor,
BBC Sport Online