Australian delegation in Zimbabwe

Cricket Australia has sent a three-man delegation to Zimbabwe to inspect facilities, and take a look at security ahead of Australia's tour in May. The Australians decided late last year that they would honour their commitment to tour, but Peter Young, CA's public affairs general manager, said that security remained a contentious issue.

The delegation consists of Tim May, the chief executive of the Australian Cricketers' Association, Michael Brown, CA's general manager of cricket operations, and Steve Bernard, the team manager. They will hold discussions with Zimbabwe cricket and Australian government officials on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Young added that other aspects of the tour were also being scrutinised. "They are checking that all of the operational issues are as they need to be, like catering, hotels, transport, cricket facilities," he said. "As part of that, we have a particular concern about safety and security. We have always said that if there is any risk to safety and security, we won't tour."

Australia declined to tour Zimbabwe in 2002, citing the worsening law-and-order situation in the country, but unlike England, they did play their World Cup game in Zimbabwe last year. Earlier this year, John Howard, Australia's Prime Minister, left the final decision on the tour to Cricket Australia, despite the government being in favour of it being cancelled.

In an interview with ABC Radio, James Sutherland, CA's chief executive, asked, "Will the cancellation of an Australian cricket tour of Zimbabwe change the circumstances of what's going on under Mugabe's regime?" England certainly seem to think so, with regard to their tour later in the year. But Sutherland agreed to disagree. "I would have thought not," he added. "What will perhaps change that is a stronger stance by government, the Commonwealth and the broader international community."