The ZIMBABWE Situation | Our
thoughts and prayers are with Zimbabwe - may peace, truth and justice prevail. |
By
Thrasy Petropoulos BBC Sport in Cape Town |
The Zimbabwe team has left home soil behind
them |
A half-page advertisement in the Johannesburg Star newspaper has urged cricket fans in South Africa to wear black arm bands and brandish red cards in opposition to President Robert Mugabe.
Next to a cartoon of Mugabe batting with a club of nails and dripping blood, the Zimbabwe Cricket Supporters for Democracy gave the message: "Zimbabwe Democracy? You be the umpire."
There followed a list of action taken against demonstrators at cricket grounds in Zimbabwe, including the arrest of 42 people at the match against Holland.
"Join the wave for change," the advert urged. "Wave a red card to tell Robert Mugabe he's out."
And the ZCSD logo? Two hands reaching through a set of stumps as if they were bars of a jail cell.
Former West Indies wicket-keeper Mike Findlay was almost arrested on his arrival in Johannesburg because immigration staff were left bemused by his St Vincent and Grenadines passport.
Findlay, who played 10 Tests for the West Indies from 1969 to 1972, is visiting South Africa as a member of the Caribbean 2007 World Cup delegation
Tempers frayed but the immigration officers were still unwilling to accept a passport they did not recognise and prepared to detain Findlay for questioning.
Only when South African cricket officials, who had come to receive the delegation, intervened was Findlay was allowed to proceed.
It is hoped that Sir Garfield Sobers, who will present the trophy to the player of the tournament at the final, will enjoy a smoother entry.
South African's shock exit from the World Cup has clearly been too much for some people in the country.
After Monday's fateful tie at Kingsmead, radio "personality" Daryl Illbury offered listeners his thoughts on the Sri Lankans.
Among the observations by the East Coast Radio breakfast show presenter were that: "They (the Sri Lankans) should get out of our shores" and "They have long stupid names".
A torrent of furious telephone calls to the station followed and Illbury was duly suspended for two days.
The biggest of the Burgers -
JB |
"You've got more Burgers in your team than Nando's. How do you know which is which?" Smith asked Louis.
"We've got small, medium and jumbo," came the reply.
The writing for England's World Cup fate was on the mobile phone - if not the wall - when Andrew Walpole, the press manager, sent the following message to all journalists immediately after the game against Australia.
"England will depart Port Elizabeth on Wednesday AM for either Bloemfontein or UK."