ECB disappointed with government stance on Zimbabwe issue

Senior officials from the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) today met with Tessa Jowell, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media & Sport and other Government Ministers to discuss England's scheduled ICC World Cup match next month against Zimbabwe in Harare.

Commenting on the meeting, Tim Lamb, Chief Executive of the ECB, said: "We had a firm and open exchange of views, but are disappointed with the outcome.

"The final decision about whether we play this match does, as the Government maintains, technically rest with the ECB. However, if we sacrifice this match it will, in effect, be at the Government's request - and for the wider national interest.

"We don't understand therefore the Government's refusal to compensate us out of the national purse for any consequential losses we incur. These losses could damage cricket enormously. Surely, it is only fair that the Government should at least discuss this with us - as the Australian Prime Minister, John Howard, has said he is willing to do with the ACB (Australian Cricket Board).

"We are also disappointed that Government Ministers waited until very late in the day to tell us that they did not want us to play this match against Zimbabwe. This has now left us in a total 'no-win' situation. If they had expressed their views earlier, perhaps this situation could have been avoided.

"We are only too well aware of the immoral and repressive nature of the Mugabe regime and, should we fulfil this fixture, have given the Government our assurance that we are determined not to give the Mugabe regime any opportunity to make propaganda out of the England team playing against Zimbabwe. That is the last thing we want to happen."