DUBAI, June 10: Zimbabwe have agreed to postpone their remaining Tests this year after a dispute with 15 rebel white players, International Cricket Council (ICC) president Ehsan Mani said on Thursday.

ICC officials held talks with the Zimbabwe Cricket Union (ZCU) on Thursday to discuss the dispute which resulted in the rebels players quitting the national team. "We have decided to defer Zimbabwe's Test matches against England and Pakistan, but Zimbabwe will continue to play Test matches according to the ICC's 10-year programme from January 2005 onwards," Mani said in a statement.

Zimbabwe were scheduled to play two Tests in Pakistan in October and were then due to host England for another two-Test series in November. Mani said Zimbabwe would still play One-day Internationals against both countries.

The rebels, headed by former captain Heath Streak, walked out after Streak was sacked in April for questioning the composition of the ZCU selection panel and accused it of racial discrimination.

Since they left, a second string Zimbabwe side have lost 10 consecutive matches to Sri Lanka and Australia. Last month's Test series against the Australians was called off.

Mani said the meeting, which included representatives from the India, Australia and South Africa boards, had discussed the racism allegations. He said it had been agreed to make a recommendation to the ICC executive board to appoint "an eminent person or persons" to investigate the players' claims.

"This process will be independent of the ZCU and the ICC," Mani said. "Meanwhile the ZCU, very constructively, has proposed a fast-track way of dealing with this dispute with the players.

"We are waiting to hear the details from the ZCU lawyers so we can pass it on to the players' lawyers." He said the Test programme would resume from January next year when Zimbabwe are scheduled to tour Bangladesh.

Thursday's decision was welcomed by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). "I think this was a popular solution voiced privately by member boards of the ICC in recent meetings," PCB chief executive Ramiz Raja said in Lahore.

"We will look to organise six one-dayers and maybe even try to invite another team for a triangular one-day series which would allow us to come through smoothly financially," he said.

A spokesman for the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) declined to comment but said a statement could be issued later on Thursday. Streak, who has joined English county side Warwickshire, said he was pleased the problem was being addressed.

"The problem is that the longer this goes on, some of us have got big decisions to make," he said. "We're not going to turn down a potential offer on a wing and a prayer and hope that things will come right. "We are not going to turn down a career on the hope that something might be resolved." -Reuters