Sports

England cut Zimbabwe cricket ties

by Jordan Yerman | June 25, 2008 at 06:37 am

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The collapse of Zimbabwe's elections has led to the England and Wales Cricet Board cancelling their 2009 tour. Additionally, the board is calling on other cricketing nations to do the same.

Culture Secretary Andy Burnham handed a letter to the ECB clarifying Prime Minister Gordon Brown's views on the sanctions to be placed on Zimbabwe.

"All bilateral arrangements are suspended with Zimbabwe Cricket with immediate effect," said the ECB.

Zimbabwe were set to play two Tests and three one-dayers in England next year, as well as the World Twenty20 in June.

The ECB's stance follows the decision of Cricket South Africa (CSA) - traditionally one of Zimbabwe's supporters in cricket - to sever its bilateral links on Tuesday in the wake of the country's deepening political and economic turmoil.

"The ECB deplores the position in Zimbabwe and, like CSA, finds this untenable," added the statement.