ECB caught between a rock and a hard place

David Morgan, the chairman of the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB), and David Stewart, their chairman of finance, have arrived in Barbados ahead of Thursday's third Test. Although the pair are ostensibly on holiday, the cricket won't be the only thing on their minds. During the match, they will be holding informal discussions with their West Indian board counterparts over England's scheduled tour of Zimbabwe next winter.

The decision on whether the tour will go ahead was due last week but, as expected, was delayed again. The latest rumours are that it might be early May before anything is decided. The longer it is put off, the greater the flak the ECB attracts from those who accuse it of having double standards. But Morgan admits that cancellation - still the odds-on favourite - could cost English cricket something in the region of £5 million in fines and consequential losses.

The underlying fear is that the punishment could go further than a monetary hit - the ICC might also consider suspending England from international cricket. There is a growing feeling of resentment within the ICC - fuelled by one or two senior figures - and the longer this affair drags on, the more the position of those individuals strengthens.

England's cancellation of the tour would probably lead to retaliation from the Indian board - led by Jagmohan Dalmiya, an outspoken critic of the ECB's self-proclaimed moral stance - which could call off India's three-match one-day series, that is due to take place in England shortly before the ICC Champions Trophy. Two of those matches are already sold out, and Stewart warned that the consequences would be "dire".

The only thing that would get the ECB off the hook would be for the government to step in and issue a directive that England shouldn't tour. There are no signs that it has any intention of doing that, although further talks are planned with the Foreign & Commonwealth Office and the Sports, Media & Culture department in the coming fortnight.

Meanwhile, Morgan and Stewart will be keen to sound out the view of the West Indies Cricket Board during their stay in Barbados. Things might be going well for England on the field, but off it the storm-clouds are gathering by the day.