ICC stand by Zimbabwe and Kenya in venue row

England's World Cup match against Zimbabwe in Harare on February 13th will go ahead as planned after the International Cricket Council revealed that there had been no formal motion tabled by the England and Wales Cricket Board to have the fixture moved.

According to the ICC as neither England nor Australia or the Netherlands - the other countries that had expressed concern about going to Zimbabwe - had requested a change of venue, no decision had to be taken by ICC. New Zealand had requested that their fixture in Nairobi be switched but the ICC said that it was felt "there were not sufficient reasons to move the game."

In making the announcement at a press conference in London, ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed said: "On the issue of Zimbabwe, no country sought to have the matches moved, so no decision was required.

"Concerns have been raised by England, Australia and Holland over scheduled matches. We need to sit down with these countries to see if adequate security is in place. No one went to the stage of requesting a formal motion."

The fact that the ECB delegate, new chairman David Morgan, had not formally requested a change of venue was a major surprise. However, the ECB issued a statement immediately after the announcement in which it said Mr Morgan did "make strong remarks to the board about the broader issue of safety and security at all matches."

Whether that will satisfy the players remains to be seen, but the ECB statement made it clear that the captain, Nasser Hussain was fully briefed by the chairman last night on the approach he was going to take.

Morgan gave his account of what happened during the meeting. "It was clear from the mood of the teleconference that there was an implacable and overwhelming feeling that the recommendations of the report should be accepted," he said.

On the question of being seen to be out of step with the expressed views of the players, Morgan added: "I want to put the broader issue of the possibility of civil unrest and the threat of terrorism into very stark perspective.

"If there are demonstrations and rioting in Harare during the England versus Zimbabwe match this is not just an issue for the two countries directly concerned, it is an issue for all the countries taking part in the World Cup.

"We should all be concerned about this matter, just as we should all be concerned about any safety and security concerns in Kenya affecting New Zealand, Kenya and Sri Lanka.

"The security risk at all matches will, of course, vary according to where the match is being played and which countries are taking part in the match.

"In that sense, the risk factor at each match must be individually assessed and evaluated.

"If there are significant security and safety problems, it will blight the whole 2003 World Cup with an indelible stain.

"It will reflect very badly on cricket and, indeed, everyone associated with the World Cup. No one will escape blame. We will all have to bear collective responsibility.

"If, in the next few days/weeks, there is a discernible deterioration in safety and security surrounding particular matches then decisions must be urgently reviewed and, if necessary, matches moved. We must all reserve our right for this to happen."

The ICC's decision was taken after lengthy consultations with all boards, player representatives, the diplomatic corps, the World Cup organising committee which takes responsibility for all security matters, and from the respected security consultants, Kroll, who had been asked for a report on the situation.

The Kroll report, according to the ECB statement, was "categorical in its ultimate assessment that it is safe and secure for all six matches in Zimbabwe to proceed as planned."

This is the same organisation that reported to the State Department in Washington, advising United States citizens: "The Department of State warns US citizens of the risks of travel to Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe is in the midst of political, economic, and humanitarian crises with serious implications for the security situation in the country.

"All US citizens in Zimbabwe are urged to take those measures they deem appropriate to ensure their well being, including consideration of departure from the country."

The Professional Cricketers' Association, which had called for England's game in Harare to be relocated to South Africa, tonight expressed "significant disappointment" at the ICC's decision.

Dealing with the point about New Zealand's match against Kenya in Nairobi, Mr Speed said: "New Zealand sought to have the game relocated. This was opposed by Kenya.

"New Zealand provided a report into the security situation, but the decision the board made was there were not sufficient reasons to move the game from Kenya."

New Zealand Cricket has threatened to boycott the fixture if it does go ahead, but the findings of the ICC board - a body dominated by cricket politics - is unlikely to be the end of the matter.

As from next week, the conduct of the event passes to the World Cup Organising Committee. Among the personnel on that committee are Malcolm Speed, another Australian in ICC commercial director Campbell Jamieson and World Cup director Dr Ali Bacher. They are joined by two former players in Sunil Gavaskar from India and Michael Holding from the West Indies and a member of the South African board, Brian Basson.

It could well be that part of the ECB's strategy is to register its concern, as it has done, now and then put its trust in the World Cup Organising Committee to act within its safety and security mandate to have the matches switched. Such a move might not have been possible in the tense political climate of the ICC board meeting and, even if cricket is not shown up in a good light for the time being, the end result might well justify a strategy that will undoubtedly attract widespread criticism now.