MICHAEL VAUGHAN might have known that he would be pleading in vain last week when he called publicly for his England one-day team to stick together for the controversial but brief tour of Zimbabwe starting in late November. Yesterday the first of his two prime match-winners, Steve Harmison, used his Sunday newspaper column to rule himself out for moral reasons. It would not be entirely a surprise if Andrew Flintoff follows his close friend.
The ECB agreed ten days ago to a series of five one-day internationals provided it would be “safe and secure” for the team to play two games in Harare and three in Bulawayo. The players have been told that there will be a pre-tour inspection.
Harmison, however, gave “political and sporting” reasons for his choice, which will have no effect on his certain selection for England’s tour of South Africa starting in mid-December. A few months ago, Stuart MacGill, the Australia leg spinner, opted out of his country’s tour of Zimbabwe. For largely unrelated reasons, he has not been picked for the imminent tour of India. Harmison’s position is unassailable at present and so is Flintoff’s.
“We have asked the England players and management to make themselves available but any player who makes himself unavailable to tour Zimbabwe for reasons of personal conscience will not be penalised,” an ECB spokesman said.
Harmison said: “My decision was made in Cape Town over 18 months ago when England’s World Cup squad spent an horrendous four days before finally deciding not to go to Harare. Nothing has changed for me. The situation there is worse now.”
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Alleged misconduct by Zimbabwe Cricket Union officials, including racial bias in selections and grossly extravagant use of funds, is due to be investigated in an inquiry instigated by the ICC.