Date:11/02/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/02/11/stories/2003021105610100.htm

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England denies boycott decision

CAPE TOWN Feb. 10. England today denied they have refused to play their cricket World Cup match against Zimbabwe in Harare.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) spokesman, Andrew Walpole, said the matter was still being discussed.

He was asked to respond after an International Cricket Council (ICC) document released today said England had given "formal notice" that they would not play Thursday's fixture.

The document, dated February 10 and signed by the ICC president, Malcolm Gray, was handed out to reporters at a press conference organised by the world governing body in Cape Town.

It said that the commercial arm of the ICC "notes that you (the ECB) are giving us formal notice that you are unable to fulfil the scheduled fixture in Harare on Thursday".

Mr. Walpole, however, told reporters: "We have not said that we are refusing to go to Zimbabwe. We asked the ICC to move the match to a safe location outside Zimbabwe on the grounds of safety and security."

The ICC document was not discussed at the news conference, nor was England's decision not to play announced.

The clause referring to the ECB's formal notice only came to light later when scrutinised by reporters.

England's players have voiced concerns about the social and political unrest in Zimbabwe.

Reuters