ECB seeks urgent meeting with government over Zimbabwe

Officials of the England and Wales Cricket Board are expected to seek compensation from the government if they bow to pressure not to play their World Cup match in Zimbabwe.

Several members of the government, including the Prime Minister, have called on the ECB to boycott their match against Zimbabwe, which is due to take place in Harare on February 13, as a protest against President Robert Mugabe's regime and its record of alleged human rights violations.

The ECB's chief executive, Tim Lamb, has asked for an urgent meeting with the government to seek a solution to the matter. The Board faces huge financial penalties from the International Cricket Council if they refuse to take part in the match. It is also possible that Zimbabwe might pull out of their tour to England next summer.

"If the ECB finds it is in danger of suffering a severe financial loss as a result of breaking its contract, or if there is any threat to our international programme next summer because of any retaliatory action on the part of the Zimbabwe Cricket Union or the Zimbabwe Government, we want to make sure that we'll be fully indemnified for going along with the Government's wishes," Lamb said today.

"We haven't had any direct discussions with the Government on this issue, but I'm quite sure during the discussions that we will be raising the potential financial and contractual ramifications of us not playing the fixture."

"What the politicians don't seem to appreciate is that there are some quite serious financial and contractual, as well as cricketing, ramifications of our not fulfilling our commitment to play our World Cup fixture.

"Quite apart from the obvious point that we would forfeit the two points if we don't show up for any reason other than safety and security concerns, which from a cricketing point of view would be a huge disadvantage, I can't rule out the possibility that the ECB would have to pay substantial compensation to the ICC or their commercial partners.

"I'm certainly not an apologist for the regime in Zimbabwe, but we don't believe it's up to us as a sporting body to make political or moral judgements about regimes in different parts of the world. It's quite clear no official economic or sporting sanctions have been applied to Zimbabwe either by the British Government or internationally.

"If the regime is so repugnant, as many politicians are saying, then why hasn't Britain cut off diplomatic relations with Zimbabwe, why haven't sanctions been applied to Zimbabwe, and why is cricket regarded as an activity that has to make a gesture which will have potentially severe financial consequences on the game of cricket, internationally and domestically?

"We believe it is unjustified and unfair for cricket to be singled out in this way and the people who will most be damaged by this is the Zimbabwe cricket community."

The new chairman of the ECB, David Morgan, told the BBC this morning that he believes England's match against Zimbabwe in Harare on on February 13 will go ahead.

"I think it is probable that we will play the match," said Morgan, who takes over in his new role tomorrow.

Asked if he thought Government compensation was likely if England pulled out of the Zimbabwe match, and if Zimbabwe refused to tour England next summer, Morgan replied: "Probably not, but it isn't just finance that is important. The World Cup has a schedule of matches that has been in place for a year, based on matches taking place in three countries - South Africa, Kenya and Zimbabwe."