The Hindu : England skipper may quit over Zimbabwe fiasco

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Feb 16, 2003

Front Page

Front Page

England skipper may quit over Zimbabwe fiasco

EAST LONDON (South Africa) Feb. 15. The England captain, Nasser Hussain, said on Saturday that he would likely step down after the World Cup because of bitterness over the Zimbabwe fiasco, and accused the International Cricket Council of letting down the English players for "money and politics".

"I am quite annoyed. It leaves me as captain in isolation again. My trust in authorities in general today and last week has left me completely... I can't think of a better word, just kept me very low to be honest," Hussain told reporters.

He was speaking after the ICC's technical committee rejected for a final time England's request to have its Thursday's abandoned match against Zimbabwe relocated from Harare to South Africa, and awarded four forfeit points to Zimbabwe.

England had refused to go to Harare because of security concerns, arguing that politically-volatile Zimbabwe wasn't safe enough to stage the game. "The team is very disappointed. It is not the start we wanted. There are issues at stake here much more important than four points. (The players) will all be very disappointed that the most major tournament that they had worked for a long time started off like this,'' Hussain said.

Asked if the controversy would force him to think about relinquishing the captain's post after the World Cup, Hussain replied: "Most definitely". He added that "it suggests" that he will step down as captain of one-day and test teams after the tournament. "Most definitely I have to think about the future (but) I haven't actually made up mind on anything."

He said the ICC should have seen the Zimbabwe problem six months or a year ago.

"I saw a group of players whose whole World Cup dream had been taken away from them. It's been shattered by politics... It's come down to politics and money," he said.

"I still firmly believe that this group of cricketers, given the situation between England and Zimbabwe and the political wrangling, have been let down by the ICC.'' Hussain denied that he ever spoke rudely to the ICC chief executive, Malcolm Speed, or swore at him during a meeting last week after the alleged death threat was received.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page

Stories in this Section

Uneasy truce between BJP and BSP in U.P.

England skipper may quit over Zimbabwe fiasco

Worldwide protests against war

Saddam will be disarmed: Bush

India pulls out of SAF Games

Kargil linked by air

Forex reserves swell

Now an embarrassing loss