England set to tour Zimbabwe

England's controversial Test tour of Zimbabwe has been officially deferred, although the ECB has agreed to undertake an extended one-day tour of the country there later this year. The announcement came today at the conclusion of the ICC's annual meeting at Lord's, and draws a line under a saga that has dogged cricket's authorities ever since last year's World Cup.

"The ECB announced yesterday that they will be going," said Ehsan Mani, the ICC's president. "They will be prepared to play more matches than originally arranged, which is very encouraging." The original plan had been for England to play four one-day matches, but now, in a bid to keep the flame of Zimbabwe cricket flickering, they may agree to play five.

Pakistan's Test tour, scheduled for November, has also been postponed, although they too will be fulfilling their one-day programme, and Zimbabwe will also be attending this year's Champions' Trophy, which takes place in England in September. And, as fate would have it, their campaign will be launched with a match against England at Edgbaston on September 10.

"I am pleased that the ICC board has accepted the recommendations of the sub-committee in relation to Zimbabwe's playing future," said Mr Mani. "The board has acted to protect the integrity of Test cricket and Zimbabwe will not play this version of the game for the remainder of 2004. "But the team will continue to play one-day cricket, which is an important pathway in providing players with the skills and exposure to perform at the international level. By providing this opportunity, the ICC is ensuring that cricket in Zimbabwe is given every chance to survive."

Zimbabwe are scheduled to resume their Test status in January 2005, when Bangladesh return for another visit, but in the mean time, India and South Africa have both agreed to A tours in July and August. It was a development that pleased Peter Chingoka, the chairman of the Zimbabwe Cricket Union. "We are happy with the programme agreed on in Dubai," he said. "[It will] give our young team some much-needed exposure to first-class cricket."

The ZCU is currently working on the schedule of the South African tour, which begins in a week's time, and is also exploring areas of support and assistance from the boards of the other Test-playing countries. The ICC, however, is still monitoring the dispute between the ZCU and its players, and has given the two parties 14 days in which to agree to an arbitration process.