LONDON, June 29: International Cricket Council's Executive Board meets on Wednesday to decide whether to suspend Zimbabwe's Test status for the rest of 2004.

The proposal would mean England and Pakistan playing only one-day matches against Zimbabwe later this year.

Zimbabwe Cricket has been in crisis ever since Heath Streak was sacked as national team captain in April. It led to a boycott by 15 white players and a novice team being chosen to face Sri Lanka and Australia.

They lost every match and Tests against Australia were cancelled with both the tourists and ICC voicing concern about protecting "integrity" of Test cricket. The proposal to give Zimbabwe some breathing space without pressure of playing Test cricket was put forward following an emergency meeting in Dubai earlier this month.

ICC president Ehsan Mani has stressed, however, that it is envisaged that Zimbabwe will resume their Test programme from January 2005. -PPI