ICC acknowledges player concerns

The ICC today confirmed that it was aware of the safety and security concerns of the England players and that it would continue to monitor the situation in Zimbabwe in the lead-up to the ICC Cricket World Cup 2003.

ICC Chief Executive, Malcolm Speed, said that he assumed that today's calls by the Professional Cricketer's Association (PCA) for the games to be moved would be raised by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) at the next teleconference of the ICC Board scheduled for late this week.

"The process is in place for the English players, through their Board to have this issue discussed and debated.

"As recently as last Friday, the ICC Board, including the Chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), David Morgan, met to consider this issue and no member sought to present any argument to the Board to move the game.

"The ECB will have the opportunity to argue its case later this week during the ICC Board teleconference which will again discuss the games scheduled for Zimbabwe and Kenya."

Mr Speed stressed that the ICC Board has previously determined that safety and security is the only criterion to be considered by the ICC.

"The ICC is an international sporting organisation with 84 members with a variety of cultures, beliefs and political systems.

"Its members are in place to make judgments on cricket administration and not to take a political stance on foreign policy issues. This is the role and responsibility of governments.

"Many months ago, the ICC Executive Board discussed this issue and all members, including the ECB, endorsed this position. Of course, should the ECB wish to have this approach reviewed, it will be entitled to argue the case at the meeting on Friday.

"We are committed to monitoring the safety and security of players and officials in Zimbabwe and this is being done on a daily basis.

"To do this we have in place an effective system that will allow us to make a proper, fact-based assessment on the safety issues that each team will be faced with in Zimbabwe.

"There is in place a properly resourced and highly skilled Security Directorate that is responsible for the safety of all teams.

"The Directorate has put in place a thorough system to identify, assess and manage any safety and security issues and the tournament will see unprecedented levels of security for all games.

"The ICC has also now visited Zimbabwe on several occasions to assess the safety issues first-hand, visiting and listening to a number of diplomatic officials from the countries scheduled to play there as well as to a number of relevant stakeholders.

"In addition, the ICC has appointed an independent firm of international security advisers to provide its expert view on the situation in Zimbabwe.

"This thorough process allows the ICC to make a proper assessment of the safety and security risks to players and officials based on the expert advice of a range of well-qualified safety experts.

"As it currently stands, based on this expert advice the ICC Board continues to see no reason to move the games.

"Should the situation change there is in place the system to alert the ICC to this and a proper decision making process to deal with any need to relocate games."

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