Zimbabwe tour of Caribbean is on

Zimbabwe cricket received a much-needed boost with the news that their tour of West Indies in April and May will go ahead, and furthermore they will play seven ODIs instead of the five originally scheduled.

Zimbabwe had also been due to play two Tests, but these were shelved after they withdrew from Test cricket for a year last month.

"I can confirm that the Zimbabwe tour is on," said Zorol Barthley, the chief cricket operations officer of the West Indies board (WICB). "The finalised dates will be issued sometime in the next couple of days."

The viability of the tour had been in doubt, and last month Roger Brathwaite, the WICB's chief executive, told Cricinfo that he was monitoring the strength of the Zimbabwe side before making a decision. The WICB had sought alternative sides to play, but none were available at that time, and with serious financial difficulties themselves, the board had to have cricket of some sort to appease supporters and sponsors.

West Indies remain uncertain whether the series against India which follows will have three or four Tests. Four were originally scheduled, but the Indian board has gone on record as saying it only wants to play three.