Backing for ECB over Zimbabwe decision

The Chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board, David Morgan, and England's senior player, Alec Stewart, today confirmed that England's players will back the ECB's decision to play their World Cup match in Zimbabwe.

Morgan himself has been in constant touch with the England camp over the controversy, and has sought the views of both the captain Nasser Hussain and coach Duncan Fletcher.

"The decision yesterday was one that I had - along with Tim Lamb and Mike Soper - recommended to the management board and they were unanimous in their support and reaction," said Morgan.

"We should continue to attempt to fulfil commitments to the World Cup by playing in Harare. The players have made it very clear, as have the management, that they are prepared to follow ECB instructions in this case.

"Providing there is no further deterioration in the safety and security issue then we can fully expect to be playing in Zimbabwe."

The ECB's decision to resist Government pressure to boycott the match has also received the backing of the Professional Cricketers' Association.

Members of England's World Cup squad have been gathering information about the situation in Zimbabwe, and today their views were voiced by wicket-keeper Alec Stewart.

"We should discuss it," Stewart said. "Because we are cricketers it doesn't mean we don't know what goes on in the outside world. It's like the India situation last year over security when the players discussed whether they would go or not.

"But we still take guidance from the ECB management board. We have bosses above us that have dealt with the Government and they are the ones who know what is going on. If the Government steps in and puts sanctions on Zimbabwe then I am sure that will change."

Stewart added that he believed the ECB's chief executive, Tim Lamb, had been put into a difficult position by the Government.

"I'd say he's handled himself and the ECB situation very well," added Stewart. "He's obviously had high-powered meetings with the Government, and they have been, using his words I think, 'less than supportive' and backed him into a corner."

The ECB came under belated pressure from ministers to boycott the game over Christmas, after the International Development Secretary Clare Short voiced initial opposition to the match.

The Government also ruled out compensation in return for the game's abandonment, and Morgan added that there were other issues to consider.

"It is not just money the ECB stands to lose but the unity of world cricket is at stake," he told the BBC. "Yesterday's decision goes a long way to preserving the unity of world cricket.

"It isn't cricket's job to make moral judgements. We have a commitment to play a World Cup match in Zimbabwe and providing it is safe for cricketers and administrators to travel, and it is, we have to fulfil that commitment.

"We have great sympathy for the plight of people in Zimbabwe but also sympathy for cricket worldwide and cricket in Zimbabwe. The Zimbabwe Cricket Union would feel terribly let down if we fail to fulfil the commitment of playing a World Cup match there."

Meanwhile the BBC cricket reporter, Pat Murphy, has taken a personal decision not to travel to next month's match.

Murphy, who is covering England's one-day games in Australia, said: "This is not an issue of safety for me, it is a matter of personal morality. I think it reflects well on the maturity of the BBC that they allow me to reflect such freedom of conscience.

"This is something that has bothered me for some time and it is a personal and private decision. I don't make any criticism of my colleagues who choose to travel. I wish them well."