He told Australia's Channel Nine television on Monday: "You have appalling human rights abuses occurring in that country.

"You have a completely illegitimate, undemocratic, stolen government in Zimbabwe.

"That was the most rigged election in years and that has been attested to by all manner of international opinion.

"This is not just Australia visiting Zimbabwe.

"If we take a decision in isolation from decisions of other governments then that can create a situation where you have one team playing and another team not.

"What I'm saying to the International Cricket Council is please look at this again. I am disappointed that they (ICC) took the decision they did... and I hope other governments, including the British government, say exactly the same thing."

Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe has received widespread international criticism for his controversial land reform programme amid a deteriorating political and economic situation.

Six of the tournament's 54 matches are being played in Zimbabwe with England scheduled to meet the home country in Harare on February 13. Australia play Zimbabwe in Bulawayo on February 24. South Africa is hosting most of the World Cup.

Australia's Opposition foreign affairs spokesman Kevin Rudd called on the ICC on Monday to overturn the decision to go ahead with games in Zimbabwe, Australian Associated Press reported.

"The ICC has got rocks in its head if it thinks it is smart or safe to continue with its decision to hold World Cup matches in Zimbabwe next year," Rudd said.

DIFFICULT QUESTION

Australia captain Steve Waugh, in his post-match news conference after leading his side to a fourth consecutive victory in the Ashes test series against England, said it was a difficult question and not one for the players.

"If John Howard is stepping in then the Australian Cricket Board will become involved and I think it's up to those people to make a decision. The players don't want to be involved in political decisions," Waugh said on Monday.

England captain Nasser Hussain repeated his stance that he felt it was a government decision.

Hussain said he would be meeting with England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chief executive Tim Lamb in Sydney later this week ahead of the fifth test starting on Thursday to discuss the Zimbabwe situation.

"I've said quite openly that I would like the government and politicians in England to help probably make the decision for us," Hussain told a news conference.

"We're going to be ambassadors for our game and our country and we're going to this area and we know very little about the situation in Zimbabwe.

"It's a moral issue. It's not a safety issue. Should England or any other team be in Zimbabwe playing cricket? We certainly can't bury our heads in the sand.

"This is an important issue. It's far too important a decision for me to make."

GRAY UNHAPPY

ICC president Malcolm Gray refused to accept Howard's advice that the ICC should take a leading role.

"The ICC and, in general, sports administrators are not equipped or experienced or competent, nor have the mandate, to make political decisions," Gray told a news conference at Melbourne Cricket Ground on Monday.

"That is the role and responsibility of governments.

"Often over the years, governments and politicians have tried to push that responsibility onto sports administrators -- the ICC will not accept that.

"It is up to him (Howard) to make up his mind, together with his government, and convey whatever his decisions are to the Australian Cricket Board," Gray added.

"If it is a government decision, I would expect the national board to follow it."

The ACB released a statement after Gray's news conference, indicating it would play in Bulawayo as planned.

"Our long-standing position as cricket administrators has been that we will go to Zimbabwe unless there are safety or security risks," ACB chief executive James Sutherland said.

"I was part of the recent ICC delegation which inspected safety and security issues in Zimbabwe and the ACB supports the subsequent ICC report finding that safety and security arrangements are appropriate."

On Sunday, British Foreign Office minister Mike O'Brien joined Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Alexander Downer in voicing opposition to their sides playing in Zimbabwe.

England, Namibia, India, Australia, the Netherlands and Pakistan will play a match each in Zimbabwe in the tournament starting on February 9.

Gray added that any team that refused to play matches in Zimbabwe would forfeit their points.