Dr Bacher comments on ICC decision on England

The following statement was made by ICC Cricket World Cup Executive Director Dr Ali Bacher to the media today following the decision by the ICC Event Technical Committee's decision to award the points for the cancelled match in Harare (to have been played on 13 February 2003) to Zimbabwe:

"At the end of January I was at Johannesburg International Airport to welcome the England team to South Africa. Nothing has changed from that point of view and they remain our welcome guests. I would like to wish the England team every success in this tournament and I hope that they will leave South Africa with fond memories of our country. It is unfortunate that this has happened, but there has been a history of forfeited Cricket World Cup matches - for example at the 1996 Cricket World Cup when the West Indies and Australia decided not to play matches in Sri Lanka. We are at concluding the first week of a long tournament and all indications are that that week has gone well and has been successful. I remain confident that this World Cup will continue to be a success and will be an event that South Africa and Africa can be proud of."