New Zealand Cricket under pressure to stop Zimbabwe tour
{{date|April 16, 2005}}

[[w:New Zealand Cricket|New Zealand Cricket]] is coming under increasing domestic pressure to reject a touring trip to [[:Category:Zimbabwe|Zimbabwe]]. The [[w:International Cricket Council|International Cricket Council]] (ICC), however, has demanded of the New Zealand Cricket team, called the 'Black Caps', to keep the scheduled play in Zimbabwe where there is to be five-week tour later this year.

[[w:New Zealand Prime Minister|New Zealand Prime Minister]] [[Helen Clark]] has condemned the tour stating, "Zimbabwe has just had a rigged election, which has produced a result which is simply unbelievable. I ... wouldn't go near it."  But she refused to ban the tour, placing the onus instead on New Zealand Cricket.

The ICC may fine New Zealand up to US$2 million dollars for not attending the tour. England cricket, though, just bought its way out of playing two test matches at a cost of $400,000.

In 1981 there were nationwide protests during the [[w:1981 Springbok Tour|South African Springbok rugby tour]]. Several games were cancelled due to the protests.

== Sources ==

* {{source|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?c_id=4&ObjectID=10119977
|title=PM: I won't stop tour of Zimbabwe
|author=
|pub=New Zealand Herald
|date=12.04.05 Thursday April 14, 2005}}
* {{source|title=New Zealand PM Joins Cricket Boycott Campaign
|url=http://allafrica.com/stories/200504110589.html
|author=
|pub=allAfrica.com
|date=web April 11, 2005}}

== External links ==

* [http://www.saynotozimtour.com/index.asp Online petition against the tour]
* [http://www.blackcaps.co.nz/ Black Caps online]

  
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[[Category:April 16, 2005]]
[[Category:Oceania]]
[[Category:New Zealand]]
[[Category:Africa]]
[[Category:Zimbabwe]]
[[Category:Sports]]
[[Category:Cricket]]
[[Category:Helen Clark]]
New Zealand Cricket is coming under increasing domestic pressure to reject a touring trip to Zimbabwe. The International Cricket Council (ICC), however, has demanded of the New Zealand Cricket team, called the 'Black Caps', to keep the scheduled play in Zimbabwe where there is to be five-week tour later this year.

New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark has condemned the tour stating, "Zimbabwe has just had a rigged election, which has produced a result which is simply unbelievable. I ... wouldn't go near it."  But she refused to ban the tour, placing the onus instead on New Zealand Cricket.

The ICC may fine New Zealand up to US$2 million dollars for not attending the tour. England cricket, though, just bought its way out of playing two test matches at a cost of $400,000.

In 1981 there were nationwide protests during the South African Springbok rugby tour. Several games were cancelled due to the protests.
April 16, 2005 Oceania New Zealand Africa Zimbabwe Sports Cricket Helen Clark