December 20, 2002	Friday	Shawwal 15, 1423

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LONDON, Dec 19: The International Cricket Council said on Thursday that World Cup matches should take place in Zimbabwe as planned next year.

A 10-man ICC delegation including chief executive Malcolm Speed visited Zimbabwe last month to monitor the security situation in the light of an economic and political crisis in the country.

Speed told a news conference the ruling body’s delegation recommended “there was no good reason in terms of safety and security of players to relocate any of the six matches”.

If there was any “significant deterioration” in the security situation in Zimbabwe, the issue would be revisited, Speed said.

Matches in Harare and Bulawayo involving Zimbabwe, Namibia, England, India, Australia, the Netherlands and Pakistan will be staged in the sport’s premier competition.

Following the ICC decision England said they would play their match in Zimbabwe.

“The England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announces that in response to today’s publication of the report from the ICC Safety and Security Delegation, it has decided to accept the delegation’s recommendation that, as things stand at present, it would be safe and secure to play in Zimbabwe during the forthcoming ICC World Cup.

“Consequently, the England team will fulfil its commitment to play against Zimbabwe in Harare on Feb 13, 2003,” the England and Wales Cricket Board said in a statement.—Reuters