The England and Wales Cricket Board have dismissed reports that they have boycotted their match against Zimbabwe — even though a statement released by the International Cricket Council seemed to indicate England would not be going to Harare.
An ECB representative said: ”We have not said that we are refusing to go to Zimbabwe, we have asked the ICC to move the match to a safe location outside Zimbabwe on the grounds of safety and security.”
Professional Cricketers’ Association managing director Richard Bevan backed those sentiments, saying that processes were continuing.
Earlier ICC president Malcolm Gray, responding to the ECB’s request for further security information, wrote, in a letter to ECB chief executive Tim Lamb: ”ICC Development International note that you are giving us formal notice that you are unable to fulfil the scheduled fixture in Harare on Thursday the 13th February.”
But the letter continues: ”IDI and the United Cricket Board of South Africa require a final decision about whether you are going to perform your obligations under the agreement and play in the scheduled match on February 17 by 4pm (2pm GMT) today.”
It was clear that the ICC were still trying to persuade England to fulfil the fixture despite their obvious reluctance to do so because of safety fears. – Guardian Unlimited