Verbal brickbats precede crucial Zimbabwe decision

Although the expression "Decision Day for England" has been used with monotonously repetitive regularity over the last week, there is no doubting today's qualifications for such a tag.

The World Cup technical committee is meeting in Johannesburg to decide whether England should play their World Cup Pool A match against Zimbabwe in Harare. The England and Wales Cricket Board hope that new evidence will persuade the committee that death threats received from an organisation called the "Sons and Daughters of Zimbabwe" cannot be dismissed as a hoax, as claimed by the Deputy Commissioner of South African Police, Andre Pruis.

He said that the organisation was not known to pose a serious threat and that he received several such letters himself on a personal basis. However, it was later revealed that the organisation was known to Interpol.

There appears to be little sympathy for England's cause outside the country. Indeed, two of the Boards' top brass, Jagmohan Dalmiya (India) and Percy Sonn (South Africa) have gone well beyond the mere unsympathetic in adding their respective verbal fusillades.

Dalmiya suggested that far from just forfeiting the match if they don't play in Harare, England should actually be docked an additional four points for failing to do so. In a letter to International Cricket Council chief executive Malcolm Speed, he stated: "The ICC should come to a firm and final decision whether Zimbabwe is a safe country or not for playing World Cup matches.

"If Zimbabwe is not a safe country, then shift all the matches from there. But if it is safe, award full points to Zimbabwe for the England match and levy a penalty of four minus points on England."

Meanwhile the president of the United Cricket Board of South Africa, Percy Sonn, has now been called to account by his own organisation. Sonn, who some observers claimed was drunk at the game between India and Holland at Paarl, was heard to launch into a tirade about English cricket in front of ECB chairman David Morgan, who was attending the game as Sonn's guest.

The UCBSA chief executive Gerald Majola is planning to talk to Sonn about the alleged incident. The ECB has maintained a dignified silence.

"I have spoken with Percy and he will get the opportunity to discuss the matter with the UCB general council in the next few days," said Majola. "Until that discussion has taken place, it is inappropriate for the UCB to make any further comment on the issue."

Sonn later apologised for his behaviour, in response to requests from several South African politicians.

Sonn said in a statement: "I realise that my conduct at Boland Park on Wednesday fell short of standards which people find acceptable for a person in my position and, if I offended anyone with my behaviour, I sincerely apologise."

Earlier this week Sonn told a press conference that South Africa might boycott this summer's tour of England in retaliation for the ECB's refusal to honour their World Cup fixture in Zimbabwe on security grounds.

It is against this unedifying background that the technical committee will decide whether to abandon England's match on safety grounds and split the points between the countries, relocate the game or hand the points to Zimbabwe.

It is not just millions of pounds that are riding on the decision. So, it seems, is almost an entire summer programme of international cricket in England.