Violence, famine, corruption, racism. Anyone for cricket in Zimbabwe?

As Robert Mugabe lectured the Zimbabwe parliament yesterday on the evils of Tony Blair, he must have had half an eye on a meeting a few miles up the road from Downing Street.

In the genteel surroundings of Lord's cricket ground, in the heart of the capital of the hated former colonial power, the International Cricket Council was giving the go-ahead for his country to stage matches in February's cricket World Cup.

The ICC's international development board (IDI) made the decision after reading a 12-page report from a delegation that visited Zimbabwe to assess the country's safety for visiting players. While South Africa will host the main part of the competition, six first-round games will be played in its northern neighbour, including England against Zimbabwe in Harare on 13 February.

President Mugabe's critics believe Zimbabwe's human rights record, violent elections, debilitating fuel shortage and food crisis, which has left half the country's 14 million citizens hungry, render the country an unsuitable playground.

The decision to go ahead with the matches provoked an angry response. Paul Themba Nyathi, spokesman for the Zimbabwe opposition Movement for Democratic Change, which was boycotting 78-year-old Mr Mugabe's end-of-term speech to parliament, said his party was "bitterly disappointed" at the "callous message to the people of Zimbabwe".

He said: "This decision will damage the image of cricket and may come back to haunt the ICC. Not only have they demonstrated indifference to the pain and suffering of hundreds of thousands of innocent people, they are also, albeit inadvertently, sending a message of hope to the despotic Mugabe regime."

Mike O'Brien, the parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Foreign Office, has made clear the British government's reservations. But last night Downing Street was forced on to the back foot, insisting the issue was one for the cricketing authorities alone.

With that combustible mixture of politics and sport combining in the most explosive way for cricket since the end of apartheid, the ICC did leave itself a little room for manoeuvre.

The ICC chief executive, Malcolm Speed, said: "If there is any significant deterioration in the security situation in Zimbabwe, the issue will be revisited." But the ICC and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) insisted it was not their place to take decisions based on political judgements.

"The ICC and its members are concerned only with cricket-related issues. The politics surrounding Zimbabwe are matters for politicians, not sports administrators. While some countries have imposed specific sanctions on Zimbabwe, no government has identified sporting sanctions as an appropriate tool to achieve a political outcome."

The ICC said Zimbabwe has competed in high-profile international sporting events such as the Commonwealth Games and the Davis Cup, and that its players continue to represent their country in golf.

Tim Lamb, chief executive of the ECB, said: "The recent ICC fact-finding delegation to Zimbabwe were asked to examine whether it is safe and secure for our players to play in Zimbabwe. They were not asked to consider political factors."

Vince Hogg, chief executive of the Zimbabwe Cricket Union (ZCU), of which Mr Mugabe is patron, said: "We are very happy with the decision; we thought it was the correct one. We are delighted to be able to play the six games at home. It is great news for our supporters and for the man in the street who loves his cricket.

"Obviously, there are lots of problems in the country, but as far as watching cricket is concerned, it is going to be safe

"We have had England here on numerous occasions, and their supporters, the Barmy Army. They always have a great time and there is a big English community here. Everyone will be given a warm welcome."

It is not the first time cricket has found itself entangled in politics, most notably during the apartheid years in south Africa with rebel tours in 1982 and1989. The latter was scheduled as a two-parter, with players contracted to visit the republic the following winter, but that plan was shelved with the release of Nelson Mandela.

The former England and Nottinghamshire opener Chris Broad, a member of that ill-fated 1989 rebel tour to South Africa, said: "It's incredibly unfair to single out cricketers. We've got to use every opportunity to say on behalf of these poor, suffering people that the world is not going to do anything to give credit to Mugabe."

In London, the political row looked set for a long stay at the crease. Michael Ancram, the shadow Foreign Secretary, accused the ICC of "a denial of human values". He said: "I believe it to risk debasing the great game of cricket by associating with an evil, murderous dictator like Mugabe."

Mr Ancram wrote last night to Lord MacLaurin, the chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board, calling on its members to pressure the ICC into reversing its decision. "Failing that, the ECB should seriously consider if the English team should play in Zimbabwe," he added.

Menzies Campbell MP, the Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesman, said: "I personally have no doubt whatsoever that the cup matches in Zimbabwe should be transferred. The sight of Robert Mugabe trying to make political capital out of this sporting event would be sickening."

As for Mr Mugabe, he seemed to sum up the situation perfectly. In what was ostensibly an appeal for what is left of Zimbabwe's businesses to keep faith in his disintegrating country, he said: "The man and woman standing in need of food cannot apply himself or herself when he or she is concerned about where the next family meal [is coming from]".

And for Zimbabwe's millions, whose lives will be untouched by the tournament, he was perfectly right.