It might well be a farce admits Sutherland

James Sutherland: 'It's not the best against the best' © Getty Images

It might well turn out to be a farce, but it's going ahead anyway. That was the verdict of James Sutherland, Cricket Australia's chief executive, when asked about the decision to play the three one-day internationals against Zimbabwe.

"I read that people regard the tour going ahead as being farcical, because it's not the best against the best," Sutherland admitted. "I accept that to some extent. But Cricket Australia has obligations to the future tours program, such that these one-day matches should go ahead. It's never been discussed or never been an issue that the one-day matches were in consideration."

The Australian board has been widely criticised for agreeing to go ahead with the matches even though the Test series was called off last Friday.

Sutherland continued that the situation which led to the cancellation must not be allowed to happen again. Asked about Zimbabwe's Test status, he said that it was "higher on the agenda now than it has ever been before."

He went on to say that there were "a number of other full member countries are concerned about how things have developed in recent weeks. The ICC and the member countries really need to address it so there is some certainty into the future."