Zimbabwe cancel Ireland’s tour
In the same week as county Down’s Rory McIlroy loses the Augusta masters, Irish sport takes a further blow with Zimbabwe cancelling Ireland’s tour.
The Ireland cricket team were due to travel to Zimbabwe later this year. The tour was to consist of one four day game, as well as two ODI’s. Zimbabwe’s official reason for cancelling this is because they want to focus more on playing full member nations in preperation for the 2015 world cup. However I believe that this is only a half truth. Whilst they do want, and need more games against full nations, Zimbabwe also want to move up the world rankings. I maintain that they cancelled Ireland’s tour as they now feel they cannot lose any games while trying to move up rankings. A loss to Ireland would not only hinder Zimbabwe’s chances of elevation, but it would also give Ireland those vital points. Ireland are currently in tenth position, just ahead of Zimbabwe.
This decision is not only a blow to cricket Ireland, but it is also slightly ungrateful to Ireland. Cricket Ireland took a controversial decision to travel to Zimbabwe last year, when no other cricketing nation would. Ireland did. Not South Africa, England, India, Australia or any of the other full members who Zimbabwe are now so keen to play against. Several of Ireland’s cricketers, such as Trent Johnston and George Dockrell, have taken to twitter to express their annoyance over the cancellation of the tour.
