Further inspection of Zimbabwe needed, says ECB chief

The chief executive of the England & Wales Cricket Board, Tim Lamb, has asked for a further security inspection in Zimbabwe before England's controversial World Cup game takes place in Harare next month.

Lamb announced yesterday that the game on February 13 will take place despite pressure from the Government for a boycott.

"I have written to the ICC saying we do think it's important in the light of recent events in Zimbabwe that there is a revisitation of the security situation in the country," Lamb siad.

"Their current stance following the delegation, which included myself, which visited Harare and Bulawayo at the end of November is that it's safe and secure.

"The ECB will not expect its players to go to Harare if there's any perceived risk or specific advice from the appropriate sources that their physical safety could be at risk."

Lamb also confirmed that no England player had indicated a wish to boycott the game, which will go ahead unless the ICC decide security has deteriorated.

"There has been no indication that any player wishes to withdraw from their commitment to play in this match," Lamb added. "We have been working very closely with the Professional Cricketers' Association and the England team players' representatives.

"Our advice is that all the players are perfectly happy to be guided by the ECB and have confirmed in the last 24 hours that as things stand, subject to safety and security issues, they will fulfil their obligations to play this match.

"There is no provision in the contractual arrangements we have made with players for them to decline to play, but we consider it most unlikely any player will withdraw from the match on an individual basis.

"We are fully aware there would be a hoo-hah if there were pictures of Nasser Hussain, the England players or myself shaking the hand of Robert Mugabe. That would be totally unacceptable and we are not going to expose our cricketers, management or officials to having to take those steps."

Lamb has made it clear to the ICC, World Cup organisers and the Zimbabwe Cricket Union - of which Mugabe is a patron - that such a situation would be entirely unacceptable.