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Editor — The negative comments from a freelance cricket writer, Telford Vice, just across the border, south of the Limpopo, were vicious and unnecessary.

Zimbabwe and South Africa enjoy good diplomatic relations and his criticism was uncalled for.

Despite the fact that our Chevrons crashed out of the World Cup campaign, Zimbabwe remains a respected cricket playing nation as echoed by the continued support from the world cricket governing body, the International Cricket Council (ICC).

The ICC’s solid support for Zimbabwe despite calls from some quarters to suspend and strip the country of its full membership as well as continued financial support, reaffirms the high-profile status we hold in the world cricket arena.

This is inspite of setbacks emanating from lack of financial resources to sustain growth and expansion of the game in the country. We must maintain strong ties with the ICC.

The world cricket body officials, executive officer David Richardson and chief financial officer Ankur Khama, visited Zimbabwe to discuss the country’s strategic business, financial and cricket plans in the wake of our successful hosting of the World Cup qualifiers which we, however, failed to capitalise on.

All this demonstrates confidence in the country’s sporting sector. The mere fact that ICC continues to stand by Zimbabwe reaffirms the importance of sports in developing international relations as well as developing our cricket to world class standards.

Maintaining stronger ties with such like-minded bodies like the ICC is vital.

Felix Zonke, Harare.