IT took a few hundred years for this country to earn and enjoy the respect of most of the world, and it has taken just half a century to lose it.

Our cricket team is off to Zimbabwe to play in a country where they have been murdering their kith and kin, and taking over their farms. Now starvation and a bankrupt government is all that is left.

These cricketers are selling their principles and pride for a few pieces of silver. President Mugabe is laughing his head off.

DAVID BEHAR