Zimbabwe stance puts Champions Trophy in doubt

David Morgan, the chairman of the England & Wales Cricket Board, faces one of the most important meetings of his career next month, when he takes on the board chairmen of the other nine Test-playing countries in a summit in Auckland. On the agenda will be England's probable postponement of their tour of Zimbabwe, and the possible repercussions of such a stance.

According to a report in London's Sunday Telegraph, England stand to lose as much as £10 million if they continue to take a hard line against Zimbabwe. Their decision - which has yet to be formally announced - has won plenty of support from the public and government at home, but has been viewed with a jaundiced eye abroad. When Des Wilson produced his 17-page document, it was praised in Britain for reintroducing the moral argument to sport, but elsewhere it has been seen as unnecessary moral posturing.

The worst-case scenario for England, and a very real possibility, would be the cancellation of next summer's ICC Champions Trophy, which is due to be held in England in September. Fifteen matches are set to be staged at Edgbaston, Southampton and The Oval, which would generate around £3 million in ticket sales for the ECB. In addition, the three-ODI NatWest Challenge against India would also be cancelled, and so more gate revenue and a lucrative deal with Indian television would also be lost.

Morgan is still hopeful that the Champions Trophy will be not be relocated. He needs at least three of the 10 boards to stand by him, and India is the only viable alternative venue. But by the end of the financial year, the ECB will have drawn up a contingency fund of £3 million, about half of which may have to go to Zimbabwe as compensation should the postponement go ahead.