The recent passing of Basil D'Oliveira reminded us that in extremis there are times when sport and politics have to mix and that sport can play its part as an accelerator of change.
With Zimbabwe having been readmitted to Test cricket earlier this year and several prominent players such as cricketer-for-hire Chris Gayle and Rory Hamilton-Brown participating in the domestic Stanbic Bank 20 Series, one could be forgiven for wondering what is going on.
Robert Mugabe is still firmly in control of the levers of power and Zimbabwe's people are still living under his tyrannical rule, but the ICC and the aformentioned cricketers seem oblivious to this.
As Ben Elton might say, "we like a bit of politics" and Zimbabwe is the subject of our column on All Out Cricket this week. Have a read of An Opportunity Missed To Influence Change in Zimbabwe and let us know what you think - particularly if you are from that once prosperous country.
Where next?
Watch Zimbabwe bowler Keegan Meth losing four front teeth
"Your guys took one hell of a beating..."
Zimbabwean cricket heroes: Andy Flower, Henry Olonga, Duncan Fletcher
Chris Gayle may be cool, but we're not sure even he can carry this look off...
Check out all our Reverse Sweep cricket heroes and zeroes
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