18 October 2004	Monday	03 Ramazan 1425

LAHORE, Oct 17: The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Sunday said a probe had found no evidence of racism in Zimbabwe cricket.

"The ICC conducted an inquiry to probe racism, allegations of racism, in Zimbabwe cricket and the two-member panel found absolutely no evidence of racism in Zimbabwe cricket," council president Ehsan Mani told a press conference.

Cricket in the African country is in turmoil following a strike by 15 white players led by former captain Heath Streak who alleged racism in Zimbabwe cricket in April.

The Zimbabwe Cricket Union (ZCU) refuted the allegations, sacked the rebel players and has subsequently been forced to field a weak and inexperienced side under young captain Tatenda Taibu.

The ICC is considering a proposal which could limit Zimbabwe and Bangladesh to home matches because of their problems competing at the top level.

ICC President Ehsan Mani said that there was no intention of stripping the teams of Test status and that the proposal was merely one of many under consideration.

"The discussions are being held to try to improve the content of Test and one-day international cricket," Mani said after the ICC executive board had considered a report on the structure of the sport.

He said the board had "deliberated upon several proposals on the future structure prepared by a consultant who has spent six months analysing the existing structure.

"This report will now be studied by the constituent boards and they will come back their feedback in March 2005.

"Any good sports body has a duty to carry out a critical appraisal of its cricket structure from time to time, carry out a self-assessment, but the present structure is still valid."

Zimbabwe's Test programme was suspended in June for the rest of the year because the team, weakened by a player walkout after a row over selection policy, struggled to compete with the top sides. They have also lost their last 13 one-dayers.

Bangladesh have not won a Test for 30 matches.

Mani also said the executive board, having considered a report on the banning of Kenya captain Maurice Odumbe for his links with a bookmaker, had decided in future to bar any player guilty of such offences from ICC events.

OTHER DECISIONS:

- A new Tests and one-day system discussed and will be up for further discussion at the council's meeting in March 2005.

- The ICC office to be relocated from its base in London since 1909 to Singapore, Malaysia, Switzerland or Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. A final decision will be made next month.

- No cricketer banned for life will be given press accreditation in ICC events. The decision was taken after former Indian captain Mohammad Azharuddin was given accreditation to cover the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka in July. Azharuddin was banned for life over match fixing in 2000.

- Selectors of all playing countries are bound by the ICC code of conduct and from now on will be forbidden from criticising ICC officials.

The decision comes after Pakistan's chief selector Wasim Bari criticised Englishman David Shepherd's umpiring in a tri-series in Holland in August this year.

- Format of the biennial Champions Trophy to be reviewed and the fifth ICC Champions Trophy in India in 2006 will be played in a slightly different format.-AFP