Trade-off at ICC

The International Cricket Council (ICC) reached the best-possible compromise formula on Zimbabwe, when the African nation decided to withdraw their team from next year's Twenty20 World Cup in England.

In return, Zimbabwe gets to keep its status of a full member of the ICC. The issue threatened to divide the world of cricket, with England and South Africa calling for a ban, while the Asian Bloc, led by India, opposing any such move.

It was, in cricket terms, a forced declaration by the politically-troubled southern African country. The delegation's decision, still to be ratifed by the Zimbabwean board, looks in all likelihood to stand as they won't suffer financially, and will receive a participation fee for the competition like every other competing team.

Outgoing ICC president Ray Mali said the decision for Zimbabwe to step aside was the right one.

"Dealing with the Zimbabwe issue is my responsibility as the leader of this organisation, and we had to resolve it and we have found a solution," said Mali. "Everyone in cricket stands to benefit from a tolerant decision. I think we could not jeopardise that tournament – it had to go on."

The Twenty20 tournament stands to earn a total £10 million (Dh73m) for the ICC and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) with nearly 300,000 tickets sold. But had Zimbabwe insisted on participating, the tournament could have been moved to another venue.

South Africa and England had last week severed ties with Zimbabwe, with the British government refusing to issue visas to the Zimbabwe team to take part in the Twenty20 World Cup. This provoked much debate in the press on whether the African country would be allowed to stand as a full-member at the meeting, but incoming ICC president David Morgan rubbished the rumours.

"The full membership of Zimbabwe is currently not in doubt," said Morgan. "There was not even a discussion on the issue of Zimbabwe's membership."

Thus, Zimbabwe retains their voting rights and the £11million (Dh80.3m) annual fee handed to Test-playing nations despite last playing a Test in 2005, when they hosted India.

Morgan said the English team won't necessarily be in breach of ICC rules if they were to refuse to play Zimbabwe after they returned to the international arena.

"Given the instruction not to tour is an acceptable non-compliance within the regulations of the future tours program, so if the British government retains their current stance then England would not be permitted to tour Zimbabwe," he said. "But one would hope that situation will improve and I'm certain that if the conditions in Zimbabwe improve, then the British government will wish to review their position."

Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he welcomed the African nation's decision to withdraw from the tournament.

"This will allow the Twenty20 tournament in England to go ahead," said Brown. "It also sends a powerful message to Zimbabwe that the government must change or face further isolation."

While new incoming ICC CEO Haroon Lorgat added: "The position of the ICC is very clear: that we cannot as a sports governing body be mixing the issues of politics with sport, and to be frank, I share that sentiment."

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