Butcher calls for ECB decision

Mark Butcher has called on the England & Wales Cricket Board to reach a swift decision on the question of whether to tour Zimbabwe, as he and the rest of the England squad prepare to fly out to the West Indies next month.

A final decision is expected at a special meeting of the ECB's management board next month, and all parties are hoping to avoid a repeat of the scenes in South Africa last year, when the players instigated a last-minute boycott of the match, in protest against President Robert Mugabe's regime.

"I'd like to think I keep myself aware of pretty much what is going on in the world," said Butcher, "and it's plainly obvious to everyone that things are not right in Zimbabwe. But it's one thing to say what I'd do - in a team game it's not about what you want, it's what everyone wants to do.

"During last summer, when Zimbabwe were over here, I remember thinking that we were going there in 2004 and would things have changed by then?" he added. "The best difference this time is that the ECB and the government are trying to pre-empt any disasters like those that happened last time in the World Cup. With a bit of luck we can concentrate on playing a series in the West Indies and it will be taken care of back here."

The furore at the World Cup undoubtedly affected England's performances. "You cannot poke your head in the sand and say these things do not make any difference to you because you are a sportsman - of course they do," said Butcher. "But with a bit of luck there will not be a decision for us to make anyway. Our employers, the ECB, and the Government at the moment are talking about what should happen - it's in their hands and until it comes back to us that's it."