February 4, 2003	Tuesday	Zul Hijjah 2,1423

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JOHANNESBURG, Feb 3: England extended Craig White’s fitness deadline on Monday to give the all-rounder a last chance to take part in the World Cup.

England spokesman Andrew Walpole said that White would not play in the team’s first warm-up game against Eastern Province in Port Elizabeth on Tuesday.

The game had earlier been set as White’s final fitness test before the start of the tournament on Sunday.

“The intention is to give as many players as we can a run-out, either on Tuesday or on Thursday against Border in East London,” Walpole said.

“Craig bowled in the nets this morning and came through without any reaction but we want to give him and Steve Harmison more time after their injuries.”

The injury-prone White, 33, tore a side muscle during the Ashes series in December, the injury ruling him out of the recent triangular one-day tournament against Australia and Sri Lanka.

England coach Duncan Fletcher, asked about White last month, said: “The worst scenario is that we will take him to South Africa and, if he is not fit for the very first warm-up game, we will have to look at changing it.”

Should White be ruled out of the World Cup he is likely to be replaced by Surrey captain and all-rounder Adam Hollioake in the 15-man squad.

Fast bowler Harmison, meanwhile, is recovering from an ankle injury sustained during the triangular tournament in Australia.

Meanwhile, England’s players are due to meet with the World Cup’s security director Patrick Ronan on Friday to discuss their concerns over playing in Zimbabwe.

England and Wales Cricket Board chairman David Morgan and chief executive Tim Lamb, as well as the team management, will also take part in the meeting in Cape Town.

Walpole said: “The meeting with Patrick Ronan will bring the players up to date with the latest security reports about Zimbabwe. It’s designed to give them as much information as possible.”

Nasser Hussain’s side have expressed repeated concerns over the political situation in Zimbabwe, calling last week for their opening game in Harare on Feb 13 to be switched to South Africa. Richard Bevan, head of the Professional Cricketers’ Association, the England players’ union, will also attend the meeting on Friday.

The ICC, however, has ruled that the venue is safe and that the match should go ahead. The sport’s world governing body also commissioned a safety audit of Zimbabwe by American risk management firm Kroll, which backed their stance.—Reuters