Lamb reveals Monday's position. (Getty Images)
CONSEQUENCES COULD BE COSTLY
By Myles Hodgson, PA Sport Cricket Correspondent, Cape Town
England's failure to persuade the International Cricket Council into moving
their potentially explosive Pool A match against Zimbabwe to a safer venue than
Harare may carry far greater consequences than hindering their progress in the
World Cup.
Thursday's crunch match has overshadowed a promising start to the eighth World
Cup tournament with the ICC, cricket's world governing body, focussing most of
their attention on England's opposition to playing a match in Harare while the
security situation remains unclear in their minds.
Three times they have approached the ICC's Technical Committee, the
organisation charged with successfully running the tournament, and despite
allegations of death threats and warnings of demonstrations and possible
violence, England's argument to reschedule the match has been denied on every
occasion.
It leaves captain Nasser Hussain, his team and the England and Wales Cricket
Board with a stark choice of playing the match and running the risk of criticism
for entering a country which boasts an appalling human rights record under
President Robert Mugabe, not to mention the security concerns.
Should they do that they would have a better than even chance of collecting
the four points available - they whitewashed Zimbabwe 5-0 on their last visit to
the country 18 months ago - and boosting their chances of progressing to the
Super Sixes stage of the tournament.
If, however, they decide to boycott the match they would not only forfeit the
four points - leaving them with the daunting task of needing victory in at least
two of their three qualifying matches against Pakistan, India and Australia to
stand a realistic chance of qualification - but could also provoke a chain
reaction which may lead to a split in world cricket.
Zimbabwe have already stated that they may retaliate by boycotting a proposed
tour to England later this year when they are due to play two Tests and compete
in a triangular one-day tournament also involving South Africa, a prospect which
could have catastrophic consequences for the ECB's finances.
Should have happen, though, the ECB can at least console themselves with the
knowledge that Pakistan are keen for England to compete in a similar triangular
tournament in their own country this April and may consider extending their stay
in England later this year for a three-match one-day series to take Zimbabwe's
place.
But South Africa may join their Zimbabwean neighbours by also boycotting this
summer's tour of England in a show of solidarity, which involved them competing
in the triangular tournament and a five-Test series.
England would almost certainly have to take legal action should that happen
while they may face a court battle of their own to compensate the ICC for the
loss of television revenue for failing to fulfil their World Cup obligations.
Percy Sonn, the President of the United Cricket Board of South Africa,
indicated as much when asked on Monday if his country could join Zimbabwe in
cancelling this summer's tour to England by saying: "It may become serious."
Malcolm Speed, the ICC's chief executive, was more composed and suggested:
"It doesn't give me a great amount of concern. Over the year there are constant
pressures around the the cricket world as there are with international sports
events and we overcome them."
Yet with David Morgan, the newly-elected chairman of the ECB, expressing
similar fears recently, it is a possibility England may have to consider when
they make their final decision about whether to go to Zimbabwe later this week.
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