Chingoka had his EU ban over his “unacceptable links” with President Robert Mugabe lifted last February, leading to the possibility that Zimbabwe’s ICC board representative would be part of their official party and attend functions during cricket’s 2 000th Test match.
The Chingoka issue was raised by Matthew Fleming, MCC’s representative on the ECB, at the last committee meeting about whether the discredited Zimbabwean would be welcome in the Lord’s pavilion where the ICC high command held a drinks party on Thursday night.
High-placed ICC and MCC sources were given the strong impression that Lord’s did not want Chingoka on their hallowed premises in case it upset their members.
But an MCC spokesman insisted the club had agreed to follow Government guidelines and would have allowed Chingoka entry if he was given a visa to enter the UK.
In the end, his visa did not come through in enough time.
Minister for Sport Hugh Robertson said as long as Chingoka remains in charge of Zimbabwean Cricket, it would be extremely difficult for them to be fully integrated into the cricket community. But Zimbabwe play their first Test series since 2005 against Bangladesh next month. — Daily Mail
