ICC's stance on World Cup is clear - Gray

The president of the International Cricket Council, Malcolm Gray, is insisting that there will be no change in the organisation's position despite the row over the staging of World Cup matches in Zimbabwe.

The England and Wales Cricket Board is currently at odds with the UK Government, which is urging them to boycott their scheduled fixture in Harare on February 13.

The ECB is insisting that the Government has left it ridiculously late before intervening in the matter, more than a year after the World Cup fixture list was published. The Government has ruled out any compensation for financial losses arising out of England's possible withdrawal.

Gray said: "I can't see the position of the ICC changing at all. It is in the hands of the individual countries and it then becomes a matter between their governments and boards.

"There are six countries playing matches in Zimbabwe and only two where it has become an issue. It's quite reasonable that the public has a view on this matter. It is just an unfortunate part of international affairs.

"Whether it has the effect of tarnishing the tournament, I don't believe it does. Zimbabwe is a full member country of the ICC and we are duty-bound to support each of our full members. There are arguments for and against going into Zimbabwe on a political level and I won't and don't want to go into those.

"I am getting lots and lots of letters but for every argument against there is an argument for. Our position is relatively simple; we have the ability, the confidence and responsibility to ensure the safety and security of the players, the officials and people attending the matches.

"As for the political issues it is obviously a political issue going to Zimbabwe. Equally, we do not have the confidence, ability or mandate to make judgments on that, that is the role of government.

"You have to remember the ICC is a classic international body made up of 85 member countries and they have very diverse political, religious and cultural backgrounds. They will have different views as to the various regimes in various countries."

The ICC reserves the right to change its position only if there is deterioration in the security situation in Zimbabwe, which was deemed satisfactory when an ICC delegation visited the country in November.

"If things have changed we have processes in place that will allow us to change if we need to change right up to the start of the matches," Gray added.

"If something occurs whereby the safety and security issue overtakes the political issue then it may solve the problem, yes. But that wouldn't mean in any way, shape or form we would want to alter our position in regard to either of the issues."

"Hypothetically, we would need a couple of weeks, we can't do something with 24 hours notice. Our processes, if something did flare up the day before, are only in regard to who would get points."

The England captain, Nasser Hussain, has again insisted that it is for the ECB and the Government to decide whether the fixture should go ahead.

"I've not said any different from this all along," Hussain said. "I'm not naive - you can't just bury your head in the sand and say: 'oh, we're just cricketers'. I keep saying it but we have to do the right thing, everywhere we go we're ambassadors for our country, me especially as England captain.

"I am employed by the ECB, I am an ambassador for my country, I am going out there as England captain and if the Government say yes you should then I'll go by what my Government tell me to do or what my employers tell me to do. I'm not going to make that decision myself, I've got to be told what to do."

The new ECB chairman, David Morgan, believes England will play in the match.

"I would be surprised if the (ECB) management board determine anything other than to fulfil the commitment to the World Cup by playing in Zimbabwe" he told the BBC. "I want cricket to stay united and I think it has to go ahead for this to happen."

The board are due to make a decision on whether to go ahead with the game at a meeting next week.