Pat Murphy, one of the BBC’s top cricket commentators, has pulled out of covering the England game in Zimbabwe.
Murphy’s stance, in protest against the regime of President Robert Mugabe, came as English cricket officials voted to play their World Cup match in Harare.
Murphy told The Guardian: “This is not an issue of safety for me. It is a matter of personal morality.” He will still commentate on other World Cup matches outside Zimbabwe. A spokeswoman said: “The BBC will always be sympathetic to staff feelings.”
The BBC, whose news journalists are banned from Zimbabwe, is waiting to hear if it can get visas for its sports team.
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