Brown seeks Zimbabwe ban

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

The BBC's Inside Sport programme reports the option is being discussed to stop Zimbabwe's cricket team from touring England next year.

The broadcaster cites "Downing Street sources" as saying Prime Minister Gordon Brown is keen to take a tough stance against President Robert Mugabe. But the broadcaster says that cricket chiefs warn England could lose the right to host the 2009 Twenty20 World Cup if Zimbabwe are banned.

It is not clear if such a move could also have a knock-on effect on other sports figures from Zimbabwe, such as Manchester City striker Benjani Mwaruwari or golfer Nick Price.

A compromise could be to only stop Zimbabwe's cricketers from coming to the UK, although this would not please governing body the International Cricket Council. An ECB spokesman said the board would not comment until it had discussed the matter with government officials

Currently, the Zimbabweans are due to play two five-day matches and three one-day internationals next summer.

The England and Wales Cricket Board would have to pay an estimated £225,000 in compensation under ICC rules if the one-day matches are cancelled. The BBC claims the 2012 London Olympics would not be affected because the Government has signed the host city contract that guarantees entry into the country for anybody with International Olympic Committee (IOC) accreditation.

A spokesman for the Department of Culture Media and Sport said: "There are ongoing discussions between the government and the England and Wales Cricket Board, but no decisions have been made."

Last month Foreign Secretary David Miliband said a Zimbabwean tour of England would not send out "the right message".

The situation in Zimbabwe is obviously deeply concerning. I think that bilateral cricket tours at the moment don't send the right message about our concern," he said.