Zimbabwe withdrawal from World Twenty20 boosts Ireland and Scotland

The issue of Zimbabwe's participation could have been a major stumbling block for the International Cricket Council after the British Government said it would not allow any team playing under the auspices of president Robert Mugabe to enter the country.

Twenty20 questions: ICC President elect David Morgan (centre) is flanked by ICC acting chief executive Dave Richardson (left) and ICC President Ray Mali (right) at a press conference to announce the withdrawal of Zimbabwe from next year's World Twenty20 tournament.

However, after two days of negotiation, Zimbabwe's delegation at the ICC's Annual Conference in Dubai said they were to recommend to their own cricket board that the team withdrew from the tournament, while still maintaining their full member status.

That means three, rather than two, places have to be filled in the main event and with Ireland and Scotland both involved in the six-nation qualifying tournament in Belfast next month, their chances of entry have suddenly improved.

'It remains to be seen who replaces Zimbabwe in the World Twenty20,' new ICC president David Morgan said. 'Now it will be nine of the 10 full members plus three qualifiers.

'There will be space for three associate countries and Scotland and Ireland are such countries.'

England and South Africa were the two countries pushing for a suitable resolution to the problem but Zimbabwe had the backing of the powerful Asian bloc, led by India.

Failure to find a solution would have thrown the whole tournament into chaos but fortunately a compromise deal has been struck.

A statement from the ICC said Zimbabwe had taken the decision 'in the greater interest of world cricket and the ICC'.

'The Zimbabwe delegation has decided to recommend to its board that the team should withdraw from that event,' said the statement.

'The delegation will report to its board that it will not suffer financially as a result of its non-participation in the ICC World Twenty20 2009.

'This recommendation should be viewed as a one-off and will not be taken as a precedent.'

Morgan admitted there were concerns about the possibility of a legal challenge or huge compensation claim but they had been avoided.

'There could have been a legal cost involved but that hardly featured in our discussions,' he said. 'It was quite clear there was no appetite to ban or suspend Zimbabwe for political reasons.'

However, Cricket South Africa president Norman Arendse warned the issue was not yet settled in full.

'Cricket South Africa welcomes the ICC resolution on Zimbabwe as a step forward in the right direction,' Arendse said in a statement.

Irish eyes are smiling: Ireland cricket players may have reason to look forward to the World Twenty20 event.

'The Zimbabwe issue is difficult and complex, and was discussed at length. At least, the ICC decision extricates all full member countries from the potential problem of the Twenty20 tournament to be played in England in 2009.

'CSA can now look forward with confidence to participating in it next year.

'The Zimbabwe issue remains on the table. CSA's recently articulated position in relation to Zimbabwe Cricket will, however, remain as is, until the Zimbabwe situation is resolved to the satisfaction of all parties concerned.'

Andy Burnham, the secretary of state for Culture, Media and Sport, said he would have preferred tougher action from the ICC.

'While I would have preferred the ICC to take a stronger stance against Zimbabwe cricket, this solution still allows individual cricket authorities to make their own choices over whether to play Zimbabwe,' he said.

'On behalf of the Government, I would like to thank the England and Wales Cricket Board for the clear and strong lead they set in these negotiations.

'As a result, individual cricketers will not now be placed in the invidious position of having to make difficult moral judgments.'

Prime Minister Gordon Brown added: 'This sends a powerful message to Zimbabwe that the Government must change or face further isolation.'