New Zealand cricket team in Zimbabwe in 2005

The New Zealand cricket team, the Black Caps, played a controversial tour of Zimbabwe in August and September 2005, including some warm-up matches in Namibia. They played 2 Test matches against Zimbabwe and also participated in a triangular Limited Overs International competition with Zimbabwe and India.

Political debate
Concern for human rights violations in Zimbabwe, in particular the slum clearances known as Operation Murambatsvina, prompted calls by the Green Party and human rights advocates including Amnesty International for the cricket team to boycott the tour. The New Zealand Government made it clear that the scheduled return visit of the Zimbabwean cricket team to New Zealand in December 2005 would not occur as entry to New Zealand would be denied to the Zimbabwean players.

The Black Caps were obliged to tour by the International Cricket Council, and faced a fine of over NZ$3 million if they did not tour. The ICC was asked to waive this fine but refused. It was also claimed that withdrawal from the tour would greatly harm New Zealand's chances of co-hosting the 2011 Cricket World Cup with a potential loss of $NZ20 million. Two opinion polls showed a majority of New Zealanders opposed the tour. The TVNZ/Colmar Brunton poll taken on 30 June found 77 percent opposed, and a Fairfax New Zealand/ACNielsen poll on 18 July showed 53 percent opposed, (NZ Herald). Parliament voted with a substantial majority on 26 July to ask the Black Caps to abandon the tour. Only ACT and the Māori Party voted against the resolution.

The two Tests against Zimbabwe were being followed by a tri-nations One Day International series, with India making up the threesome.

Schedule (Zimbabwe leg)

 * 4 August : Practice match in Harare
 * 7 August: First Test starts (Harare)
 * 15 August: Second Test starts (Bulawayo)
 * 24 August: 1st ODI New Zealand v Zimbabwe (Bulawayo)
 * 26 August: 2nd ODI India v New Zealand (Bulawayo)
 * 29 August: 3rd ODI Zimbabwe v India (Harare)
 * 31 August: 4th ODI New Zealand v Zimbabwe (Harare)
 * 2 September: 5th ODI New Zealand v India (Harare)
 * 4 September: 6th ODI Zimbabwe v India (Harare)
 * 6 September: Final (Harare)

Namibia v New Zealand, 30 July

 * New Zealand won by 29 runs. Craig Cumming made 116 to lift the tourists to 330 for 6 in their first match at Windhoek against Namibia, a team coming off a disappointing ICC Trophy tournament, where they finished seventh and did not qualify for the 2007 World Cup. In reply, Namibia crashed to 75 for 5, but recovered to 301 all out, despite economical bowling from fast bowler Shane Bond who was returning from injury and took two for 20 in 10 overs. Cricinfo scorecard

Namibia v New Zealand, 31 July

 * New Zealand won by 148 runs. The Black Caps batted first again and made 326 for 5. Brendon McCullum scored 84 not out and Nathan Astle an unbeaten 73, to help amass a fine 50 over total. This time, though, the Namibians weren't allowed to get away to a high score, as Shane Bond and Chris Martin took two wickets each and helped them collapse to 178. Daniel Vettori polished off the tail with three for 24. Cricinfo scorecard

One-day internationals
Please see Videocon Tri-Series 2005 for a full treatment of the one-day international matches with Zimbabwe and India.