Desperate England consider Zimbabwe next step

CAPE TOWN, Feb 7 AFP - England will decide on Sunday whether or not it will go ahead with its controversial opening World Cup clash against Zimbabwe in Harare after it failed in its final, desperate bid to have the game switched to South Africa.

Justice Albie Sachs today rejected England's last gasp attempt to have next Thursday's match relocated on safety grounds.

Following a briefing from World Cup security chief Patrick Ronan, England players and officials were locked in marathon talks over their next move in the long-running saga.

They face two possibilities - either go ahead with the February 13 clash as scheduled or withdraw and be docked four World Cup points, as well as risk a substantial fine imposed by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for breaking its contractual obligations.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has no right of appeal against the decision made by South African judge Sachs.

Earlier today, Nasser Hussain's men met with ICC's Australian chief executive Malcolm Speed to discuss a report the world governing body had commissioned from American security firm Kroll.

This concluded it was safe for the six World Cup matches due to take place in Zimbabwe and two in Kenya to go ahead as scheduled.

Speed praised the ECB's handling of the situation but said he hoped Sachs' ruling was the end of the matter.

"The ECB has acted properly throughout," Speed said.

"It has exercised its rights under the contract and I expect they would continue to do so."

There have been suggestions that the ICC might fly England in and out of Harare on the day of the match itself in a bid to minimise safety risks to players and spectators alike.

ECB director of corporate affairs John Read said: "The issue is whether we play the match or not.

"Travel arrangements are not irrelevant because there are questions about preparation and acclimatisation but they are not directly relevant to this issue," Read told AFP.

England was always meant to be in Cape Town today ahead of taking part in Saturday's tournament opening ceremony at the city's Newlands ground.

Meanwhile, Zimbabwe Cricket Union (ZCU) president Peter Chingoka insisted there was "no bad blood" between the teams despite his outright hostility towards England's relocation bid.

"It's important for the tournament to proceed without interruption," Chingoka said.

"But there is no bad blood between ourselves and the ECB.

"We're looking forward to welcoming England with African hospitality."

Sachs warned Zimbabwe that, despite his ruling, it now carried the "enormous responsibility" of ensuring the safety of everyone at Thursday's match.

"Serious political and economic issues have arisen in Zimbabwe, to which it would be wrong to turn a blind eye," Sachs insisted 24 hours after the World Cup event technical committee turned down England's first formal appeal.

"Not only must the players be protected, but also the spectators."

Sachs' decision is set to have implications for all the six World Cup matches due to be staged in Zimbabwe and possibly the two fixtures in Kenya where New Zealand has refused to travel on safety grounds following terror attacks in the East African state.

South Africa is due to stage the other 46 games in the February 8 to March 23 tournament.