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No compromise on Zimbabwe security: Speed

Nick Mulvenney

The International Cricket Council (ICC) will not compromise on the safety of players at next year's World Cup, chief executive Malcolm Speed said before leaving for Zimbabwe at the head of an ICC security delegation.

Zimbabwe is scheduled to host six matches at the World Cup, which starts in February, but concerns arising from violence over the country's controversial land reform programme have led to calls for the matches to be moved to South Africa.

The delegation, which arrives in Zimbabwe on Tuesday, includes the chief executives of the boards of the countries due to play in Zimbabwe, namely England, Australia, India, Pakistan, Namibia and the Netherlands.

Speed, who will lead them on three days of inspections starting on Wednesday, said the ICC was keen that the matches go ahead in Harare and Bulawayo as planned.

"The Zimbabwe Cricket Union (ZCU) is a full member of the ICC and has the right to host these games," Speed said. "They are very important both commercially and professionally for the game in Zimbabwe.

"The ICC will do everything possible to ensure the ZCU is able to benefit from hosting ... matches. Nevertheless, it is clear that for some countries there are genuine safety and security concerns that need to be addressed."

Australia and England are the two countries which have expressed most concern about playing in Zimbabwe.

"This visit gives every country and other key stakeholders the chance to put on the table any concerns they may have," Speed added. "We will be able to judge for ourselves the work that is taking place to deal with these issues.

"Ultimately it will allow a considered and fact-based judgement to be made about safety and security risk that might be present in the country."

ELECTION VIOLENCE

An Australian tour to Zimbabwe was called off in March after their government advised citizens not to travel to the African country because of fears over election violence.

The British government has, along with the European Union, led an international campaign of condemnation of president Robert Mugabe's land reform campaign, which has resulted in millions of hectares of land being confiscated from white farmers without compensation.

But ICC president Malcolm Gray emphasised that security matters would be the only issues under consideration in the delegation's report, which will be prepared within 10 days of the visit.

"The political issues surrounding Zimbabwe are matters for politicians," he said. "Zimbabwe has competed in the recent Commonwealth Games, is taking part in the Davis Cup (tennis) and its players continue to represent their country in golf."

"Each ICC member is scheduled to play there subject to satisfactory resolution of any safety and security concerns."

If the delegation gives the go-ahead to the six matches then the Australian and England teams will face the possibility of being forced to forfeit their matches, as the Australians and West Indies did rather than play in Sri Lankan capital Colombo at the 1996 World Cup.

The current advice on the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's website reads: "Australians in Zimbabwe should maintain a high level of personal security awareness and keep themselves informed of developments that might affect their safety."

The British Foreign Office recommends that visitors to the country: "Exercise caution and seek up-to-date local advice."

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