Australia's match against Zimbabwe under threat

POTCHEFSTROOM, South Africa, Feb 2 AAP - Australia's World Cup match against Zimbabwe is under serious threat after the federal government received a warning today about the likelihood of protests and violence.

Australian Cricket Board chief executive James Sutherland, general manager Michael Brown and players' representative Tim May were due to arrive in South Africa tomorrow and they will address players on growing safety fears.

"At this stage we'll have further understanding of the situation when James Sutherland, Tim May and Michael Brown arrive," said an ACB spokesman.

"They're scheduled to discuss the match with the Australian High Commissioner to Zimbabwe over the course of the next few days. Those discussions will form part of the ACB's ongoing assessment of the safety and security situation in Zimbabwe."

Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said the fixture on February 24 should be re-located after Australia's High Commissioner to Zimbabwe informed the federal government that Zimbabwean police were refusing to guarantee a controlled response to protests.

Mr Downer said High Commissioner Jonathan Brown had sent the government a "disturbing report" from a two-day reconnaissance to Bulawayo, where opposition parties and other groups intending to protest were likely to be met aggressively by police.

"His report says, firstly, that the opposition in Bulawayo don't want the cricket game to go ahead," Mr Downer said in Adelaide.

"Secondly, he believes there will be demonstrations mounted by the opposition and others in Bulawayo at the time of the game.

"Thirdly, he has ... been unable to get a commitment from the Zimbabwean police that they won't react to demonstrators in a disproportionately aggressive way, thereby undermining the security situation."

The government will pass on Brown's report to the ACB and International Cricket Council, said Mr Downer, who estimated 400 Australians had purchased tickets for the match.

"There won't only be the Australian cricketers and their support staff, there will be quite a number of Australians present at the game as spectators," Mr Downer said.

"So we naturally remain concerned about the security situation.

"It is our view that the International Cricket Council should move the games from Zimbabwe to more appropriate locations in Africa."

Mr Downer also said the government had requested information about any Al-Qaeda link in Zimbabwe.

"I haven't been aware of this before," he said.

"We are aware of Al-Qaeda operating in the neighbouring Kenya but I'm not personally aware of Al-Qaeda in Zimbabwe," he said.

A US Government briefing has reportedly detailed a plan by Tablik Ja'maat, an Al-Qaeda-linked group of militant extremists, to attack US targets in Zimbabwe if war was declared on Iraq.

Other attacks would take place in Pakistan, Indonesia, Nigeria, Turkey, South Africa and Israel, according to the report.

Australia will forfeit competition points if it boycotts the game and the ICC doesn't stage it elsewhere.

"We haven't heard anything new," said Zimbabwe coach and former Australian Test batsman Geoff Marsh.

"We've heard so much over the last few weeks it's starting to become water off a duck's back."