The BLACKCAPS are looking to resume cricketing ties with Zimbabwe next year following key talks today between the Zimbabwe sports minister David Coltart and New Zealand Cricket chief executive Justin Vaughan.
Vaughan confirmed today he had held positive and meaningful bilateral talks with Coltart in Christchurch today.
"The tour by the BLACKCAPS in May 2011 was the principal topic of my discussion with Mr Coltart, however we are also considering the possibility of other cricketing exchanges, such as the potential for a New Zealand A team to tour Zimbabwe at some stage in the near future.
"I am aware that the Minister for Sport and Recreation, Murray McCully, had a positive meeting with Mr Coltart in Wellington earlier this week. It is clear from that meeting that our government’s position is that they would not oppose the BLACKCAPS touring Zimbabwe next year," Vaughan said.
"It is important to stress that any tour by New Zealand cricket teams to Zimbabwe would need to be prefaced by full safety and security checks, which are standard practice for New Zealand Cricket.’’
Coltart, a member of Zimbabwe's transitional inclusive government, said there were no security problems for visiting sportspeople. Zimbabwe has a lower crime rate than most other African nations, including South Africa, and recently hosted the Sri Lankan and Indian cricket teams as well as the Brazilian football team for a warm-up match before the World Cup.
