Cricket Ireland has pledged to take action against the Zimbabwe Herald after an article titled "Alcoholic dumps Zim out of WC", which labelled John Mooney as shameless and dishonest.
Ireland beat Zimbabwe by five runs on Saturday morning after a dramatic conclusion to their pool game at the Cricket World Cup.
"The Zimbabwe Herald has demonstrated breathtaking crassness"
During the game, Mooney looked to have stepped on the boundary line when he caught a ball to dismiss Zimbabwe's Sean Williams. However Mooney insisted he had not - a claim that was later accepted by Williams and Ireland went on to secure victory by five runs.
The Zimbabwe Herald referenced Mooney's battle with depression and said "for a man of such a character, who has so much weighing down on his shoulders, it was very unlikely that, in the defining moment of such a big game, he could be trusted to have honesty, let alone the decency, to concede that his footed touched the boundary.
"Some have even gone to the extent of calling him a cheat, and it's something he probably deserves, after his game changing moment turned a thrilling World Cup game on its head."
The article also added detail of Mooney's interview with RTÉ 2FM's Game On programme last year when he spoke openly about his fight against depression.
This morning, Cricket Ireland chief executive Warren Deutrom described the article as a vicious attack.
“In relation to the story that has appeared in today’s Zimbabwe Herald, it would be easy to dismiss it as a childish diatribe if it wasn’t for the vicious personal attack on John which cannot pass without comment, and possible action.
"John represents his country with honour, distinction and integrity. That he does in the face of personal challenges about which he has spoken openly and movingly demonstrates incredible hard work and great courage.
"We understand, as does John, that public figures may occasionally be subject to negative comment, but in mocking John in such a contemptuous fashion, and using his personal difficulties as a mere punchline, the Zimbabwe Herald has demonstrated breathtaking crassness and a gross error of editorial judgement.
"We have made contact with ICC to understand what remedies might be available to us.”
