The Sunday News
Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE Cricket have come out to denounce the racial abuse of some of the national cricketers by fans during the recently concluded two Test series against Sri Lanka at Harare Sports Club.
In a statement sent out yesterday, ZC said they noted with concern the conduct of a section of fans who made offensive and racist chants aimed at national cricketers. ZC made it clear that such behaviour cannot be tolerated as they are guided by the International Cricket Council Anti-Racism Code that validates a level of commitment from the world governing body to promote and encourage participation at all levels.
“Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) was deeply disturbed by the conduct of a section of fans who made abusive and racist chants targeted at our players during Zimbabwe’s just ended Test series against Sri Lanka at Harare Sports Club. We condemn any act of racism, abuse or intolerance in cricket, in particular, and sport in general. ZC strictly upholds the ICC Anti-Racism Code that confirms a level of commitment from the ICC and its members to promote and encourage participation at all levels regardless of race, colour, religion, national or ethnic group and to ensure that there is no discrimination in the sport,’’ reads part of the statement sent out by ZC.
The local cricket governing body further stated that the ICC code also requires members to impose punishments including life bans on anyone found guilty of racial abuse. In this regard, ZC warned that they are taking steps to introduce sanctions against those involved in such incidents, declaring that there is absolutely no place for racism or any form of prejudice in the game of cricket.
Some fans are said to have directed racial abuse at middle order batsman Malcolm Waller for his apparent lack of form.
Meanwhile, in a related matter, former Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture David Coltart was forced to report a bogus Facebook page in his name last Friday after it was used to post a racial statement denigrating black cricketers.
The Facebook post which concerned cricket followers in and outside the country forwarded to Sunday News last Friday read “Except Mumba (Carl) all blacks are rubbish cricketers.” When sought for comment, Coltart denied ever sending out such an offensive post, stating that the photograph used by that impersonator was not his current one on Facebook since his latest was the one in which he appears with former Zimbabwe cricketer Andrew Flower.
Coltart managed to locate the false Facebook page which went with the name David Coltart Community Site. He asked Facebook to pull it down and the social networking site managed to do that as it had been removed as of yesterday morning.
Coltart later posted on his real Facebook account with glowing comments on some of the country’s exciting cricket prospects who include Brian Chari, Tarisai Musakanda, Mumba and Peter Moor.
“Contrary to the false racist statement made by an imposter site I am in fact absolutely delighted with the direction our cricket team is going. In Chari, Moor, Musakanda and Mumba (amongst others) we have awesome new talent. In fact I am very excited about the future of Zimbabwe Cricket and our brilliant crop of new cricketers which are coming to the fore,’’ said Coltart.
National cricket team coach Heath Streak, a close friend of Coltart said he knew him well and he was not the type to make such racial remarks.
“I am shocked that people believe that Coltart would say a racial thing like that. I know he would never do that. You can quote me, Dave is the biggest supporter of our Zimbabweans, both black and white,’’ Streak said.
@Mdawini_29
