The newly elected president of the board of Cricket South Africa, Norman Arendse, on Thursday issued a statement snubbing calls from Australia, England and New Zealand to isolate Zimbabwe by canceling upcoming tours to the neighboring country.
Arendse said his board unanimously agreed to tour Zimbabwe and was committed to fulfilling its obligations to the International Cricket Council, which discourages its international membership from taking political stances through cricket.
Arendse added that his board would continue to support tours to Zimbabwe unless instructed by the South African government itself to cancel them.
South Africa’s “A” team began a four-day unlimited-over match against Zimbabwe on Thursday at Harare Sports Club, and the national team is due in late August.
Sports commentator Brian Goredema told reporter Marvellous Mhlanga-Nyahuye that Zimbabwe’s team appeared much stronger at the start of the series having ended the day with 228 runs for 7 wickets and set to return to bat on Friday.
More reports from VOA's Studio 7 for Zimbabwe...