[ICE]

New Zealand Foreign Minister Phil Goff said on Thursday the Zimbabwe cricket team could be banned from touring in December.

"Given the current appalling abuses of human rights and the relentless trend of the Zimbabwe government towards a dictatorship, the New Zealand government would not welcome a visit from a side representing Zimbabwe at this time," Goff said in a statement.

"The Zimbabwe cricket team should not anticipate that it will be granted entry to New Zealand."

However, Goff said he had yet to raise the matter at cabinet level and had not sought legal advice from officials.

He also told national radio that the government would not prevent a New Zealand tour of Zimbabwe going ahead in August,

"We're not in a position to stop the team going at all," he said.


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Your views?

[Nas]

If New Zealand is able to take a stand where so many have failed before them, then respect is due.

But have the lawyers begun doing their stuff yet?

And why does a once highly respected sport continue to allow itself to be misused in this way?

[Sparklechick]

I think we have to decide whether it is worth risking our cricket team.

It's so crazy over there at the moment.

If I was in the team I wouldn't want to be going.

[ICE]

I agree with Sparkle!

[JKoB]

I think the people who are being harmed are the Zimbabwean people if we don't go there. I don't agree with Mugabe and i know some people think that going is showing that we accept what he is doing but if we don't go we are also punishing the people their. Same for letting them come here. The best thing they coud do is not visit Mugabe and boycott any meetings with him. But go and meet the people in the streets and show them support!

[Chef]

I agree with JKob completely. Many years ago, the All Blacks continued to 'tour" in South Africa with no restrictions on selection, and after this was "stopped" Colin Meads continued with a "private" team, the name of which I can't remember, but the continued contact with South African people of all races was beneficial to all. Robert muldoon was quoted widely as saying "Sports and Politics do not mix."

I guess the world was a much simpler place then.

[ICE]

I remember going to all the matches.

The team was the NZ Cavaliers. It was in May of 1986.

[ICE]

BTW, The Springboks beat the NZ Cavaliers 3 games to 1....