"I don't think it's difficult to justify," ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed told BBC radio on Sunday.

"The ICC is a cricket organisation and we make decisions based on cricket issues. We are not a political organisation."

A 10-man ICC delegation, including Speed, visited Zimbabwe last month to monitor the security situation in light of the economic and political crisis gripping the African nation.

"We looked at the cricket issues, and particularly at the safety and security of players and officials," Speed said.

"Ultimately we were satisfied that there's no reason -- no good reason from a security perspective -- to transfer these matches away from Harare and Bulawayo."

On Thursday, the game's world ruling body announced that the World Cup matches would go ahead in Zimbabwe after reviewing the report by the ICC delegation.

But former England captain David Gower, among many others, has since called for a boycott by England and Australia of their World Cup fixtures in Zimbabwe while Robert Mugabe is president of the African country.

Six matches in the World Cup, taking place primarily in South Africa, are scheduled to be hosted by Zimbabwe -- three in Harare involving England, India and Namibia and another three in Bulawayo featuring Australia, Pakistan and the Netherlands.

PERSONAL OPINIONS

While Speed admitted that he held personal opinions about the political situation in Zimbabwe, he added that he could not allow this to cloud decisions on cricketing matters.

"I do have a view on that but, for the present purpose, we can't take our personal views into account," he said. "We can only make judgement on cricket issues.

"We've been consistent all along here. There have been sporting boycotts and other political interventions in the past -- for example in relation to South Africa. But there are no such sporting sanctions here and it simply hasn't happened.

"Politicians have had many opportunities to use them against Zimbabwe but have not done so."

"Zimbabwe is a valuable country for us and there are a lot of people who will take a lot of pleasure from these matches.

"And Zimbabwe is not the only country where people suffer from food shortages. We can't solve issues like world hunger."

Speed confirmed that the ICC had a contingency plan if Zimbabwe became "too dangerous", with matches scheduled to be held there being relocated to primary hosts South Africa.

The same also applied to the two matches taking place in Kenya.

"The contingency plan is in place -- and has been for some time," he added.

The World Cup will be staged from February 9 to March 23. The holders are twice champions Australia.