A resumption of cricketing ties with Zimbabwe is on the cards after a personal plea from Zimbabwe's sports minister for New Zealand to help strengthen democracy in his country.
David Coltart met his New Zealand counterpart, Murray McCully, in Wellington yesterday. He said afterwards he was optimistic that cricketing links would be restored, but the final decision rested with New Zealand Cricket. He is due to meet New Zealand Cricket chief executive Justin Vaughan in Christchurch today.
"The minister said that he understood and agreed with my reasons for wanting the team to tour but he stressed the Government does not interfere with the decisions taken by New Zealand Cricket so ultimately it will be their decision to make. He personally would be supportive of it," Mr Coltart said.
A spokesman for Mr McCully said the minister had had "a couple of good meetings with David Coltart but it's a decision for New Zealand Cricket to make".
The Black Caps had been scheduled to tour Zimbabwe this month, but the tour, already delayed once, was postponed again earlier this year because of "security concerns".
Mr Coltart, an opposition member of Zimbabwe's "transitional inclusive government", said there were no security problems for visiting sportspeople. Zimbabwe had a lower crime rate than most other African nations, including South Africa, and had recently hosted the Sri Lankan and Indian cricket teams as well as the Brazilian football side for a warmup match before the World Cup.
Cricketing tours by New Zealand and Australian teams would strengthen moves towards democracy in Zimbabwe, he said.
"Just as New Zealanders are sceptical about this process, so are many Zimbabweans. The normalisation of sport and teams coming from New Zealand and Australia will build the national confidence that we are becoming part of the international community again."
It would be great if Coltart can persuade Vaughn to send their national team soon. They certainly can't express health or security concerns any more
The Black Caps are looking to resume cricketing ties with Zimbabwe next year following key talks today.
New Zealand Cricket chief executive Justin Vaughan confirmed he has met with Zimbabwe sports minister David Coltart in Christchurch.
Vaughan says they discussed a tour in May 2011 as well as the possibility of other cricketing exchanges, such as the potential for a New Zealand A team to tour Zimbabwe at some stage in the near future.
Mr Coltart also met New Zealand's Minister for Sport and Recreation, Murray McCully, earlier this week, which Vaughn said he was pleased with.
"It is clear from that meeting that our government's position is that they would not oppose the Blackcaps touring Zimbabwe next year," Vaughan says.
"It is important to stress that any tour by New Zealand cricket teams to Zimbabwe would need to be prefaced by full safety and security checks, which are standard practice for New Zealand Cricket."
Coltart, a member of Zimbabwe's transitional inclusive government, said there were no security problems for visiting sportspeople.
Zimbabwe recently hosted the Sri Lankan and Indian cricket teams as well as the Brazilian football team for a warm-up match before the World Cup.
