Zimbabwe questions ICC expulsion threat

London:

Faced with the threat of expulsion from the ICC, Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) on Sunday questioned the logic behind such a possibility especially when the African nation continues to play other sports at the international level without any restriction.

Just before the ICC's Annual Conference in Dubai, England had announced cancelling their home series against Zimbabwe, days after South Africa had severed ties with the trouble-torn nation.

ZC Managing Director Ozias Bvute questioned both the decisions and said he had no idea why cricket authorities were reacting in such a way while governing bodies of other sports had no problem with Zimbabwe.

"We (Zimbabwe) are a full member of FIFA and are currently participating in a World Cup qualifying campaign, we have a swimming programme which has produced Kirsty Coventry, a recent winner in the world championships," Bvute told on BBC's Test Match Special programme.

"So it would be strange that the only sport to take action on so-called current worries is cricket when all the other world sporting bodies have not taken that stance," he added.

ZC has already sent letters to the ICC Executive Board members but Bvute was not ready to call it lobbying.

"I don't think the word lobbying is correct, we have merely stated our position," he said.

Asked what ZC expected to come out of the ICC meeting, the ZC chief said, "I cannot speculate on the outcome but we have obviously noted the actions of others."

On England's decision not to host Zimbabwe, Bvute said, "Over the last few years there have been problems between England and Zimbabwe. This is not a new phenomena."