Lamb Plays Down Question Of Morality Claim
By Paul Bakel
May 1 2003
England and Wales Cricket Board chief executive Tim Lamb insists money is not being put before morality, as the country prepares to host Zimbabwe.
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England and Wales
Cricket Board chief executive Tim Lamb insists money is not being put
before morality, as the country prepares to host Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe
arrive in England today ahead of a two-Test series and a triangular
one-day tournament. A number of fixtures look set to be targeted by demonstrators who claim
that the tour is offering succour to the regime of Zimbabwe president
Robert Mugabe. Lamb told BBC Radio Five Live: "It upsets me when people say we are
putting money before morality. "I think there are double standards here. It is unfair for cricket to
have to make political decisions." Lamb insists the tour is going ahead for cricketing reasons but the
financial implications of pulling out would be damaging. He added: "We don't think the Zimbabwe cricketers are any more the
henchmen of Robert Mugabe than the England players are the foot soldiers
of Tony Blair. They are representing their country at cricket. "Let me stress that the Zimbabwe Cricket Union who sanctioned this tour
is an apolitical organisation. Its staff are drawn from a variety of the
country's ethnic backgrounds." "We need to generate revenue to do the things we do from the playground
to Test arena and without the money from the Test arena we can't do those
things." Lamb does not have a problem with people using their right but appealed
for people to protest peacefully. "We live in a country where people can express their views," he added.
"But we are also lawfully playing cricket and I hope whilst people can
express their views we can play the games unhindered."
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