Zimbabwe cricket team faces UK ban

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A letter from Culture Secretary Andy Burnham making clear the Government's stance is expected to be handed to the England and Wales Cricket Board at Lord's, while MPs will be informed of the move in a written ministerial statement to the House of Commons.

It is understood that the ECB will be told the Zimbabwe team should not be allowed to play in a series of one-day internationals scheduled for next summer or fixtures in the Twenty20 World Cup held in the UK.

And Mr Burnham will urge the Board to take a tough stance when the International Cricket Council meets on July 2 to decide whether Zimbabwe should face a global ban.

It is understood that he will warn the Government is ready to use immigration powers to bar the Zimbabwean cricketers from entry to the UK if their planned visit is not called off.

The move comes after opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai withdrew from the second round of Zimbabwe's presidential election - due to take place on Friday - citing violence against supporters of his Movement for Democratic Change.

Reports also suggest that British-based mining giant Anglo-American is to invest £200m to build a platinum mine at Unki in central Zimbabwe, in what could be the largest foreign investment in the country to date.

A spokesman for the company said: "We are developing the Unki platinum project because we have responsibility to our employees, contractors and the local community. We are keeping the situation in Zimbabwe under close watch."

Britain this week said it could put pressure on companies doing business in the country to withdraw.

MDC politicians condemned the Anglo-American investment which they said gave a "lifeline" to the Mugabe regime.