New Zealand monitoring social stituations ahead of tour

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) is monitoring the unrest in Zimbabwe ahead of its team’s tour to the country later this month. Widespread protests against economic and civil issues have taken place in Zimbabwe this week.

The situations in Zimbabwe is currently filled with unrest among locals. On Wednesday, “stay-away day”, a strike was carried out after days of clashes between public and police ove r the government’s failure to pay civil servants’ salaries, a currency shortage, import restrictions and police road blocks that were allegedly extorting cash from commercial drivers.

Several other strikes – reportedly featuring the likes of civil servants, doctors, and teachers – have also taken place in the drought-hit country. The police has arrested at least 20 people in connection with this trike was called out by the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition campaign group.

New Zealand’s departure for Africa will not be delayed as of now, NZC public affairs manager Richard Boock told the New Zealand Herald, but the board will keep a close watch on the situation as the team prepares for the two Tests against Zimbabwe at a camp in Pretoria, South Africa.

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We are monitoring closely what is happening in Zimbabwe,” Boock said. “There are no plans to delay the players leaving New Zealand. While in camp in Pretoria, we will be able to keep an eye on what is going on. South Africa A are in Harare at present, and we will be liaising with South Africa Cricket and the British High Commission in Harare.”

Currently, South Africa A are in Zimbabwe to play two four-day games at Harare and Bulawayo respectively. The New Zealand team is scheduled to travel to South Africa on July 11 and will later head to Zimbabwe to play for a three-day warm-up game in Harare from July 22. The Tests are set to be played in Bulawayo between July 28 and August 10.