Zimbabwe tour a lost opportunity

Outside of this, the team might travel to townships desecrated by Mugabe’s prevailing insanity, conduct free-for-all coaching clinics in slums and schools, make apolitical statements to the effect that we are here to help, not hinder, social justice in Zimbabwe.

There needn’t be a political strategy, more an act of fellow human beings aware of the plight of those in need.

This is stakeholder management. This is working direct with those most immediately impacted by an Australian tour. This is responsible investing. If Mugabe’s crowd doesn’t like it, then let them be the ones to cancel the tour - that’s bad PR for them.

I do not suggest Australia’s cricketers should become diplomats. Only that they might do what they do best, entertain through sport. If it’s clear this is not a pro-Mugabe tour, then ordinary Zimbabweans might actually have reason to support and cheer the Australians touring their country.

I don’t know any of the Australia cricketers personally, but I expect there is enough integrity, courage and empathy in the current team to suggest that some good work of this kind would be taken on.

We are so often told sport is about surmounting the odds. In Zimbabwe, sport’s highest peak might actually be reached, something bigger might indeed have been served.