LONDON, Jan 20: Former Zimbabwe captain Stuart Carlisle launched a bitter attack on the ICC on Thursday accusing them of being ‘spineless’ in their relations with the stricken African country.

Carlisle believes the world governing body should shoulder a large part of the blame for the demoralising state of affairs which has seen Zimbabwe suspended from playing Tests for the second time in two years.

“This is very embarrassing for cricket in Zimbabwe,” Carlisle told the BBC. I put 95 percent of the blame on the ICC. They could have done a lot more and avoided this.

“One day the ICC is going to have to stand up and make a decision on something. They can’t always pass it on and say it’s an ‘internal matter’. They’re going to have to grow a spine and make a decision.”

“I can’t foresee Zimbabwe regaining Test status until they pay the players and sort out the product.”—AFP