ICC denies any plans to delay racism hearing

The International Cricket Council has denied reports that the hearing into alleged racism within Zimbabwe cricket will be delayed, insisting that there were no plans to alter the agreed date. The hearing is scheduled to take place in Harare between September 29 and October 1.

It had been rumoured that the rebel players were going to ask for a two-week delay to enable them to prepare their case, but Brendan McClements, a spokesman for the ICC, explained that no such request had been made. "Mr Vahanvati and Judge Majiedt [who are conducting the hearing] are both eminent gentlemen who have already given up their time to carry out this inquiry," he said. "They have other commitments."

The rebels are unhappy that they do not have sufficient funds to match the money the Zimbabwe board is investing in its defence, although the ICC is thought to have given both sides £10,000 towards their costs. The ICC asked the players for a budget to detail their additional legal expenses, but has yet to receive it.