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| February 26, 2003 | Wednesday | Zul Hijjah 24, 1423 |
Flower saved by players’ revolt?
BULAWAYO (Zimbabwe), Feb 25: Andy Flower was set to be axed for Zimbabwe’s World Cup match against Australia on Monday but was reinstated after a player revolt, a source close to the team said on Tuesday.
The left-hander, one of the top batsmen in world cricket, was to be dropped for disciplinary reasons following his public denunciation of alleged human rights abuses in the strife-torn country, the source added.
But three of his team mates warned Zimbabwe coach Geoff Marsh that they would refuse to play against the world champions if Flower was omitted.
Former Australia Test batsman Marsh, who is not a member of Zimbabwe’s six-man selection panel, passed on the threat to the selectors who quickly backed down.
The selectors, according to the source, had been instructed by the Zimbabwe Cricket Union (ZCU) executive board to drop Flower.
A member of Zimbabwe’s selection panel, however, denied on Tuesday that Flower had ever been dropped.
“That isn’t the truth,” he said. “We picked him (Flower) in the side.”
The same selector, however, who asked not be identified, said there had been long discussions over Flower’s inclusion.
“There was a debate about including Flower and (fast bowler Henry) Olonga...(but) we did not have an instruction either way.
“We wanted to know whether there was an issue with including them. We sought clarification from the ZCU and we were told there was no problem with picking them.”
Olonga, the first black player to represent Zimbabwe, joined Andy Flower in making a statement mourning the “death of democracy in our beloved Zimbabwe” before the team’s opening Group ‘A’ match against Namibia on Feb 10.
The pair also wore black armbands.
Reported to the International Cricket Council (ICC) by the ZCU for bringing the game into disrepute, they escaped censure but were asked not to wear the armbands again.
They duly appeared against India last week wearing black wristbands. Olonga was dropped to 12th man for that match.
On Monday, Flower played against Australia with white wristbands. Olonga, sacked last week by his Harare club over the protest, was not selected.
Flower batted but did not field against Australia. Zimbabwean team management said Flower had a groin strain.
The ZCU confirmed on Tuesday that letters had been sent to both players “asking them to desist from their political protest”.
Lovemore Banda, the ZCU media officer, said: “What we have done is to reaffirm the ICC position that the World Cup should not be used as a platform for making political statements.”—Reuters
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