England delay decision on Zimbabwe
LONDON, England -- English cricket authorities have delayed a decision on whether to tour Zimbabwe in October until after a meeting with government officials.
Zimbabwe Cricket Union (ZCU) chairman Peter Chingoka met England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) officials in London on Tuesday to seek assurances that the tour would go ahead.
But ECB director of corporate affairs said a decision would wait until after a meeting between the ECB and Foreign Secretary Jack Straw on May 4.
Media and Sport Secretary Tessa Jowell will also attend the meeting.
"That meeting is coming up, and we will just have to see what happens," said Reed.
"But even if we are able to make a decision in six weeks' time we must retain the caveat that there is a possibility we may have to think again if the situation in Zimbabwe worsens significantly."
England refused to play in a Cricket World Cup match in Zimbabwe last year because of security concerns and earlier this year ECB management board member Des Wilson said the tour should not go ahead on moral grounds.
Last month, the International Cricket Council said any team failing to honor their tour obligations would be fined $2 million unless there were legitimate safety concerns.
On the same day British Prime Minister Tony Blair's spokesman said the government had serious concerns about Zimbabwe president Robert Mugabe's government, but said the matter rested with the ECB.
Zimbabwean chairman Chingoka said he remained confident England would tour.
""We had the opportunity to state our case very clearly to the ECB," Chingoka told reporters.
"We are hoping that in a couple of weeks' time that they will come up with a decision that is correct and that is a decision to tour as scheduled in October and November.
"We always said very clearly that sport is for the sporting people. Politicians can handle their business outside the sporting arena and we will stand by that."
Zimbabwe beaten in Bulawayo
Zimbabwe lost by six wickets in the opening match of their five-match one-day series with Sri Lanka in Bulawayo.
The home side -- decimated by a boycott by 15 white players after ex-captain Heath Streak was dismissed in a row over selection policy -- reached 211-6 from their 50 overs.
But Kumar Sangakkara scored a well-paced 73 not out as the tourists reached 144-4 from 27 overs to win the rain-shortened match according to the Duckworth/Lewis method.
