Scots cricket team rule out trip to Zimbabwe

Cricket Scotland have refused to send a team to Zimbabwe for a scheduled ICC Intercontinental Cup contest. The Scots were due to face a Zimbabwe XI in the African nation in October but have declared they will not travel on the advice of governments in London and Edinburgh.

Cricket Scotland had originally agreed with some reluctance to move the match from a neutral African country on the request of Cricket Zimbabwe, after seeking advice from security and government officials. But such advice has since changed and Cricket Scotland have now informed the ICC of their U-turn.

Cricket Scotland chief executive Roddy Smith said: "It is hugely unfortunate that Cricket Scotland has been put in an impossible no-win situation in regard to the potential tour to Zimbabwe. Our board has taken cognisance of all the advice and recommendations from Government and the ICC, and can only take what we believe is the correct course of action.

"Both the UK and Scottish Governments were clear in their advice to us. Although accepting that this decision will not be welcomed by some key partners, we felt that as a responsible governing body we could not, and would not, contravene the direct and unequivocal advice from Government."

The organisation published advice from the UK Government which stated that there "has not yet been sufficient progress in Zimbabwe on the fundamental issues of political reform and of re-establishing the rule of law to justify sports tours by British teams and the positive signal that would send".

The Scottish Government also "strongly advised" Scottish sports teams against visiting Zimbabwe. The decision casts doubt on Scotland's Intercontinental Cup campaign. Scotland sit second in the table but must now hope the ICC allow them to move the match to another venue.