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Zimbabwe cricket match to go ahead
LONDON, England -- A controversial cricket World Cup match to be held in Zimbabwe in two weeks' time is to go ahead, cricket's international governing body has ruled. England players had asked for the match in Harare on February 13 be switched to South Africa following doubts about their security. Zimbabwe will remain as a venue for six World Cup matches, International Cricket Council (ICC) chief executive Malcolm Speed told a news conference. Speed said no formal request had been submitted to have the game moved to an alternative venue. Security experts would "sit down" with countries concerned about their security to allay their fears, Speed added. He said a New Zealand match scheduled for Nairobi, Kenya, would also go ahead. England's players requested a change of venue for their match in Harare because of concerns about the deteriorating political situation in Zimbabwe following President Robert Mugabe's controversial land reforms. Australian players have also expressed increasing disquiet about their game in Zimbabwe. The tournament starts on February 9. Pakistan, India, England, Australia, Namibia and the Netherlands are scheduled to play in Zimbabwe. Last Friday, the ICC decided players would not be at risk if they played in Zimbabwe following a visit to the country by Speed and World Cup executive director Ali Bacher. New Zealand and Sri Lanka each have a World Cup match in Nairobi while the other 46 matches are scheduled for South Africa. About 433 police officers have been assigned to each of the six matches scheduled to be staged in Zimbabwe -- three in Harare and three in Bulawayo.
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