Zimbabwe tour banned - relief for ECB as Prime Minister blocks one-day series

England will today finally receive the support from the Government they have long sought when Prime Minister Gordon Brown announces that Zimbabwe will be banned from playing a one-day series here next May.

Months of talks with the England and Wales Cricket Board will culminate with the Government taking the decision away from the cricketing administrators who have been so reluctant to stand up and be counted.

Earlier yesterday the Government said Zimbabwe would not be welcome to visit England next season but stopped short of banning the crisis-torn country.

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Crisis: ECB chief Morgan and ZCU chairman Chingoka

Then, late last night, came the news that the ECB have wanted ever since England’s 2003 World Cup squad pulled out of playing Zimbabwe in Harare without the support of the Government or governing board.

The Government will stop short of banning Zimbabwe from the Twenty20 World Cup in England next June because that is a world event and a ban might have implications for other world events, such as the London Olympics.

The launch of next year’s World Twenty20 Cup at The Oval yesterday was dominated by the prospect of Zimbabwe playing in it and facing England in a scheduled one-day series.

Cricket South Africa, until now long-term supporters of Zimbabwe cricket, suspended ‘bilateral contact’ with their neighbours late on Monday as violence and disruption escalated, prompting outgoing International Cricket Council president Ray Mali to propose that the Zimbabwe issue should be thrashed out at next Wednesday’s ICC executive board meeting in Dubai.

Unless the 13 ICC board members pass a motion to ‘expel a discredited country’ from international cricket, the game will be plunged into yet another crisis involving Robert Mugabe’s regime and England would be forced to accept Zimbabwe into the Twenty20 World Cup next summer or forgo staging the event which will be held at Lord’s, The Oval and Trent Bridge.

David Morgan, the former ECB chairman, was the man who pleaded with England’s 2003 World Cup squad to play in Zimbabwe and now, five years later, finds himself dealing with the vexed question again, even before he takes up his new job as ICC president.

‘I have the greatest sympathy with the Zimbabwe people and cricketers but I’m encouraged that the matter is on the ICC agenda,’ he said.

‘It is hugely significant that Cricket South Africa have taken this stand because they are very influential in this area. It is appropriate that Zimbabwe are discussed again and I’m pleased that that’s what the president intends.’

The ECB, who are delighted to see a successful conclusion to their talks with the Government, will hold a board meeting on the issue tomorrow and will vote to throw Zimbabwe out next week.

With South Africa at the helm, there had always been enough support for Zimbabwean cricket to avoid a ban. Now, though, administrators who have feared ICC sanctions should they back action against the country finally realise that they have to take a stand.