ICC Put Zim Decision On Hold

Mali - put Zimbabwe on the agenda.

Zimbabwe's future as a cricketing nation will not be known until Thursday after the International Cricket Council's executive board appeared to delay talks on the issue.

Outgoing ICC president Ray Mali decreed that the status of Zimbabwe should be discussed at the two-day meeting following the decision by South Africa to sever bilateral links with their neighbours.

England then followed suit and the British government outlawed the Zimbabweans' scheduled tour here next year.

It is thought a vote on whether Zimbabwe retain their full member status within ICC will be taken at the end of the meetings, with the Asian bloc's opinions vital.

It will take a two-thirds majority to force expulsion and that would be avoided if, as expected, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka all side with Zimbabwe.

That would be leave England with a potential problem over next year's World Twenty20, which they are due to host and for which Zimbabwe have been place in Group A.

Meanwhile, incoming ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat admits scheduling issues must be addressed to ensure player burn-out does not become a more pressing issue.

"I think it is a challenge that one has to be aware of and, if it is well managed, there would not be any problem," Lorgat told Gulf Times. "It is important that we identify where the load is and then keep an eye on it.

"In a recent survey, more than 90 players indicated they prefer Test cricket and would want to be involved in it.

"We know that Twenty20 has been an exciting new phenomenon and there is no doubt that there is challenge for other forms of the game but there is a lot of interest in the other formats too."

An ICC spokesman confirmed that no official comments on a raft of ICC executive board decisions would be made until Thursday.