MELBOURNE, Feb 1: European Tour golfer Tony Johnstone believes the International Cricket Council (ICC) is wrong to insist World Cup matches should go ahead in his native Zimbabwe later this month.

Johnstone, who lives in England and visited Zimbabwe last March, says the safety of players cannot be guaranteed.

The players will be used as propaganda tools by President Robert Mugabe, which will make them perfect targets for protests by opposition parties, he said.

“I think if the players were sensible, they wouldn’t be prepared to put their lives at risk and why should they,” Johnstone was quoted as saying in the Herald Sun on Saturday.

“Anybody who doesn’t think Zimbabwe isn’t an absolute unadulterated shambles, they have got their heads in the sand.

“I wouldn’t be going somewhere to play golf if they couldn’t guarantee my safety. I think there are serious concerns about their safety.

“It can be used as a tool for any opposition parties for protest.”

New Zealand refused on Friday to play their World Cup match against Kenya in Nairobi on Feb 21 because of fears over their players’ safety.

World Cup champions Australia, due to play Zimbabwe in Bulawayo on Feb 24, have expressed reservations about the match after reports of possible violent protests against Mugabe.

The Mugabe government’s policies have been blamed for food shortages and unrest in the African country.

“Cricketers are the perfect target. I think they will be used as a propaganda tool for the government...and who is making the money out of the players going there?” Johnstone said.

“It’s certainly not going to be the people, it’s not going to put meals on their tables.”—Reuters