How Mandela criticism hit Zimbabwe's case

In the end it was a complete farce. And frankly, anyone who believes that Zimbabwe voluntarily withdrew from next year's T20 World Cup in England as a magnanimous gesture for the sake of 'unity' also believes in the Tooth Fairy.

Perhaps Peter Chingoka and his sidekick chief executive Ozias Bvute believe in the 18th century French myth as well. Now, with their full International Cricket Council status secure as well, they'll be able to give their "Uncle Bob" an US$10.5-million gift in time for a shopping spree in Malaysia.

Well, that is about size of the moolah package that Zimbabwe Cricket will allegedly receive to 'develop' the game in their country.

There was so much political doublespeak over the Zimbabwe issue aftermath that by the time they made the announcement in Dubai, the world's so-called senior administrators created a problem with which they are going to need to live.

Just as well, though the Asian nations took a hard look at the question when they were faced with a double challenge as Zimbabwe faced confrontation from an unexpected, if forcefully erudite source.

Cricket South Africa president Norman Arendse may have bumped a few heads and egos since he has taken over from Ray Mali. But there has been no doubt about his sincerity and in a sense his own background has shaped his administrative career and the plight of the disadvantaged.

While not quiet a maverick, Arendse tackled Chingoka in such a fashion, the cutesy term African brotherhood was placed in the dock. It needed a forthright African to challenge an African.

He and Giles Clark, the new ECB chairman asked some pointed questions about how many cricketers were killed during the build up to the June 27 presidential voting exercise that has been exposed as a sham. They were questions Chingoka was not prepared to answer.

What an embarrassment, too for the Asian nations in Dubai to be confronted with Nelson Mandela's own criticism of Zimbabwe and Mugabe was used to highlight the depth to which he accused Zimbabwe of sliding.

After a long silence, the man who endured twenty-seven years of inhuman incarceration for his opposition to the horrendous apartheid laws finally broke his silence over Mugabe and his rule.

It is known how this iconic statesman has long been deeply troubled by events in Zimbabwe which has sent three million refugees fleeing to neighbouring territories.

We watch with sadness the continuing tragedy in Darfur. Nearer to home we had seen the outbreak of violence against fellow Africans in our own country and the tragic failure of leadership in our neighbouring Zimbabwe, Mandela said.

This statement, made at a dinner to honour the African icon and his 46664 (Robben Island cell number) concert for HIV/Aids, was attended by Bill Clinton as well as Gordon Brown was of course banned in Zimbabwe, but highlighted in the South African as well as the 'dreadfully biased British' media.

Yet somehow, all this escaped the attention of the big four Asian countries before Arendse, to drive home a point at ICC meeting, tore the façade off the Zimbabwe bluff. Suddenly, as a South African source said, they were left facing a new challenge they didn't know how to handle.