Blair: Zimbabwe is ICC's problem
LONDON, England -- British Prime Minister Tony Blair said England's cricket team should not tour Zimbabwe later this year but added that the final decision rested with international cricket chiefs.
"We would prefer them not to go but there is a difference between doing that and ordering them not to go, which I think would step over the proper line," Blair told lawmakers.
"I think many people, however, believe rightly that the problem actually resides with the ICC (International Cricket Council)."
The ICC said last month it would suspend -- and fine $2 million -- any country refusing to fulfil its tour obligations for anything other than security reasons or government direction.
England refused to play in a Cricket World Cup match in Zimbabwe -- where President Robert Mugabe's regime stands accused of human rights abuses -- last year because of security concerns.
Earlier this year England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) board member Des Wilson said the tour should not go ahead on moral grounds.
But Wilson resigned last week, saying he could no longer share the board's collective responsibility should they decide to tour.
British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw is due to meet ECB chiefs on Thursday, although they now appear unlikely to get the government instruction not to tour that would enable them to escape ICC sanctions.
Several leading England players, including Graham Thorpe and Mark Butcher, have already voiced concerns about playing in Zimbabwe.
Four Zimbabwe players including former captain Heath Streak have ruled themselves out of the first test against Sri Lanka by refusing to train on Wednesday.Streak, left arm spinner Ray Price, all rounder Sean Ervine and batsman Trevor Gripper were among 15 white players who boycotted the recent one-day series because of a dispute with the Zimbabwe Cricket Union over team selection policy.
