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Last updated: 01 July, 2008 - Published 15:13 GMT
 
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Sri Lanka opposes Zimbabwe exclusion
 

 
 
Sports Minister Gamini Lokuge
"Politics should not play in sports", says Sports Minister Gamini Lokuge
Sri Lanka sports minister, Gamini Lokuge, says the country would oppose moves to expel Zimbabwe from International Cricket council (ICC).

The ICC will discuss the move at a meeting in Dubai on Wednesday.

The England and Wales Cricket Board has already stated it will not host a tour by Zimbabwe next year.

And Cricket South Africa has also cut its ties with Zimbabwe because of the political situation in the country.

But India and Pakistan have indicated they will not support any move to expel Zimbabwe from the ICC.

"There is no reason to remove Zimbabwe," said Niranjan Shah, secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India.

Minister Lokuge says he has advised the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) to take a united policy decision with India.

"I think we should not get sports involved in political issues," he told BBC Sandeshaya.

Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe
There is an international outcry to oust Mugabe from presidency

There have been many other political troubles in the world, he said, but ICC did not take measures to stop them from playing cricket.

"There has been military regime in Pakistan for a long time. But Pakistan was never banned from playing international cricket," the minister said.

He stressed that Sri Lanka's policy does not mean that the country condones the political situation there.

With Sri Lanka adding support to Zimbabwe, it is expected that the resolution will be defeated on Wednesday at the ICC meeting.

 
 
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