ICC suspends Zimbabwe Cricket for failing to keep govt interference at bay

LONDON: The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Thursday suspended Zimbabwe Cricket over a failure to keep the sport free from government interference.

"As a consequence of suspension, ICC funding to Zimbabwe Cricket will be frozen and representative teams from Zimbabwe will not be allowed to participate in any ICC events," the ICC said in a statement.

ICC chairperson Shashank Manohar said: "We do not take the decision to suspend a member lightly but we must keep our sport free from political interference.

"What has happened in Zimbabwe is a serious breach of the ICC constitution and we cannot allow it to continue unchecked.

"The ICC wants cricket to continue in Zimbabwe in accordance with the ICC constitution."