The England Cricket team is due to tour Zimbabwe later this year. Jack Straw amongst others are encouraging them to abolish this tour because of alleged human rights abuse by Mugabi. Some of the main concerns are that Mugabe would use the tour and exploit the media coverage. The players safety is also a worrying factor.

This follows similiar pattern of the World Cup where England pulled out at the last minute after a simliar fiasco, which resulted in England been fined and the loss of points.

If England do choose to boycott they could face legal action from Zimbabwe who toured England last year on the understanding of a return tour this year. It's also thought that any boycott could be frowned upon by South Africa or other nations who share close cricket ties with Zimbabwe and the net result could be to reciprocate by boycotting the Champions cup (due to be held in England in September) which could damage the tournament.

I'd be interested on what people think about the following:

Should Political issues affect sport in this way?

Would a boycott make any difference?

I've also attached a poll.

Personally i dont think England should boycott the Zimbabwe tour. Whats politics got to do with cricket.
At the end of the day, Zimbabwe toured England so that in return England toured Zimbabwe. So dont u think it'll be wrong if they dont stick to their word?

Send an England reject team Gough can be captain. To be serious NO England shouldn't go because of Mugabi full stop.

Yeh but whats mugabi got to do wid cricket

With Zimbabwe's decision taken to ban several British Journalists. The question is still the same. To play of not to play?

Originally posted by Untouchable
.....Whats politics got to do with cricket.

Err, South Africa/apartheid anyone?

Didn't see many people objecting to the world boycotting them!

Originally posted by Untouchable
....At the end of the day, Zimbabwe toured England so that in return England toured Zimbabwe. So dont u think it'll be wrong if they dont stick to their word?

Sounds like the English cricket authorities have made a rod for their own back.

My opinion is that if there are serious security concerns surrounding the players, then they shouldn't tour. But this has been going on for a few years now (same issues in World Cup a few years ago?). The ICC and ECB should have got issues surronding Zimbabwe tours sorted before now.

We should leave politics out of sport. That's just my opinion.