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Harare: Zimbabwean authorities criticized New Zealand's decision to withdraw from a tour of the southern African country for the second straight year as being "factually incorrect" on Thursday.
Last year, the New Zealand Cricket board postponed the tour till June 2010 but now wants to push it back till 2011 or play it in a neutral venue.
"It is clear from our recent discussions that the government's assessment of the security situation in Zimbabwe has not changed from that of a year ago, when the scheduled tour was postponed," NZC chief executive Justin Vaughan said this week.
Zimbabwe Cricket managing director Ozias Bvute said his organization would not agree to either suggestion.
"We have found the decision taken by the New Zealand Cricket board to be factually incorrect and unfortunate," Bvute said. "It was a unilateral decision that was presented to us without discussion."
Zimbabwe Sport Minister David Coltart expressed disappointment at the cancellation.
"It seems it's a decision taken by the government rather than the team itself," Coltart told The Associated Press. "I believe the use of 'health and safety risk' reasons is wrong. I said it last year and I repeated it again this year: Zimbabwe is one of the safest places to visit and play cricket. Harare and Bulawayo have good health facilities and, to that extent, there is no health risk whatsoever."
"We are in the process of transition as a country. It's a national experiment and that process should be supported by the international community. The decision taken by New Zealand sends wrong signals to potential visitors from New Zealand and other country."
