England cricket chiefs push expulsion of Zimbabwe from the ICC

Clarke took advantage of Pawar's presence at Lord's for Wednesday evening's 25th anniversary celebration of India's 1983 World Cup win to discuss the issue ahead of next Wednesday's decision day in Dubai.

Lord's chiefs have officially severed bilateral ties with the African country and unlike on previous occasions when the Zimbabwe issue has raised its head, this time the ECB have Government backing.

Discussions: Chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board Clarke (above) has been in talks with Indian counterpart Sharad Pawa

Political intervention will prevent the Zimbabweans fulfilling their scheduled tour here next year but it will take the support of the other major nations to exclude them from the 2009 World Twenty20 event.

And India - like South Africa, who cut links with Zimbabwe Cricket on Monday - have been allies with the Zimbabweans in the past.

The ECB now hope cricket's global community recognise the need to act on moral grounds following the drastic deterioration of life in the country under Robert Mugabe's regime.

Throwing Zimbabwe out is far from a certainty, hence the lobbying, but ICC president-elect David Morgan said: "I am sure that will be in the minds of many of the delegates.

"I think there is every chance that it could happen, but it would be a very difficult decision."

He added: "I reminded myself of a meeting of the executive board just a year ago when the subject of how member countries are governed was on the table.

"The executive board decided by a substantial majority politics and cricket should not mix. For matters to move forward there will have to be a change in that regard."

Although culture, media and sport secretary Andy Burnham's correspondence with Clarke yesterday stopped short of banning the Zimbabweans from participating in the 2009 ICC World Twenty20, the inference is there will be such an intervention if the ICC do not act first.

"The ECB deplores the position in Zimbabwe and, like Cricket South Africa, finds this untenable," the ECB statement read.

"Therefore all bilateral arrangements are suspended with Zimbabwe Cricket with immediate effect.

"The Government has written to the ECB and has made a clear instruction that Zimbabwe's bilateral tour scheduled under the ICC Future Tours Programme for 2009 should be cancelled.

"The ECB, who have been in constructive and extensive dialogue with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport for some time, welcome the Government's decision and share the Government's concerns about the deteriorating situation and lack of human rights in Zimbabwe."

In the scenario of Zimbabwe's retention, England would in all probability lose the hosting of the 20-over tournament next June, or face accusations of hypocrisy for banning the Zimbabweans one month and welcoming them the next.