HARARE: Australia’s cricketers have arrived for their first tour of Zimbabwe in a decade, promising to play hard and shrugging off questions over the morality of the trip.

Australia avoided playing in the troubled southern African country for 10 years from 2004, partly in protest over the rule of long-time president Robert Mugabe.

Australian all-rounder Mitchell Marsh, whose father Geoff once coached Zimbabwe, was asked on Thursday at Harare International Airport if it was right to come to Zimbabwe now.

Marsh replied: “I’m not the right person to ask.” But he did say the Austra­lian team came with ‘a good attitude’ and intended to play ‘hard cricket’ in the triangular one-day series also involving Zimbabwe and South Africa.

The tournament begins on Monday at Harare Sports Club with Australia playing hosts Zimbabwe.

Published in Dawn, August 22nd, 2014