Zimbabwe -- Cricket - World Cup -- No tickets have been sold for England’s match in Harare

Sunday Times (UK) via ZWNews ^ | December 8, 2002 | David Bond

[Clive]

Not a single ticket has been sold to England supporters to watch Nasser Hussain’s team play in Zimbabwe in next year’s World Cup, amid fears over the country’s political and social crisis.

With the International Cricket Council (ICC) considering whether to move matches scheduled to be played in Zimbabwe to neighbouring South Africa, news that no tickets have been sold to England’s travelling support could increase the pressure on World Cup organisers to act.

After a three-day visit to Zimbabwe last month, an ICC security delegation is due to present a crucial report on the country to the council’s executive committee this week.

Human rights campaigners are calling for the matches to be taken away from Zimbabwe as part of an international protest against the discriminatory policies of President Robert Mugabe. A decision is expected by the middle of the month.

But tour operators say concerns over safety have already led to a lack of interest among English travellers who might otherwise have asked for packages which included England’s qualifying group game against Zimbabwe in Harare on February 13.

Five companies appointed by the World Cup and the England and Wales Cricket Board to sell tickets and trips to English fans — Gullivers, Titan, ITC, Indigo and Sport Abroad — are sending more than 1,000 England fans to South Africa to watch the World Cup in February and March, but they have not sold a single ticket to Zimbabwe.

The statistic is doubly significant because the latest travel advice from the Foreign Office states: “We advise against independent travel and strongly recommend that visitors should travel with organised tour operators.”

“We are not sending anyone to Zimbabwe and, more importantly, nobody has asked us if we could send them,” said Paul Hopkinson, of Dorking-based firm Sport Abroad.

Former England rugby union international Victor Ubogu, now a director of Indigo, added: “There’s been unrest in Zimbabwe and, of course, that has not helped attract people to travel there to watch cricket.”

[Clive]

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[happygrl]

Well Clive, there's your answer as to whether the the matches should be played in Zim. The market has decided.

[Clive]

Agreed, so far as the Brit fans are concerned.

But cricket is the world's most popular spectator sport, expecially in the Commonwealth and there especially in Asia and Africa.

So it remains to be seen whether the stands will still be filled.

Also, the matches will be broadcast around the world.

I still want the ICC to pull the plug on the Zim matches and move everything south of the Limpopo.