England left in turmoil as judge turns down appeal

Players and ECB are backed into corner by ruling that World Cup tie in Zimbabwe must go ahead

A South African judge yesterday left England between a rock and a hard pace after rejecting their appeal against an International Cricket Council ruling that their World Cup match against Zimbabwe in Harare next week must go ahead.

The ruling by Justice Albie Sachs, which is binding and final, leaves the England team and their employers, the England and Wales Cricket Board, with the choice of either fulfilling the fixture, despite their fears of violence, or boycotting it and losing World Cup points. They could also incur a possible financial penalty for breaking their contract with cricket's world governing body.

While Justice Sachs was reading his verdict, the England squad were in a meeting with security experts who stated there was no reason for the match to be moved, and outlined the precautions that have been taken to protect the team during their visit to Zimbabwe.

The players were expected to consider their response overnight before meeting the ECB this morning when a decision whether to travel to Zimbabwe as scheduled tomorrow will be made.

It is unlikely that the players will change their minds about not going to Harare, which will leave the ECB with only one option – to pull the team out of the game.

Peter Chingoka, the chairperson of the Zimbabwe Cricket Union, who attended the hearing here in Cape Town said: "We are very pleased and I am looking forward to receiving England."

The ECB made an official request to the ICC on Tuesday to move next Thursday's fixture out of Zimbabwe. That was turned down and, following an ECB appeal, the ICC appointed Justice Sachs to make a final decision over whether there was any justification on security grounds for moving the tie to South Africa.

"The ECB makes no complaint about the Zimbabwe Cricket Union, nor against the players in the Zimbabwe team. It is the setting that leaves anxiety in the ECB's mind," Justice Sachs said.

"The players have manifested deep concern not only about the moral question but the safety of players and spectators. The greater the degree of danger and the more damaging its impact the greater the duty on the organising authorities to intervene.

"Having heard the appeal I have not been persuaded that the decision of the technical committee to insist the match takes place in Harare was wrong.

"This appeal does not raise or deal in any way with the consequences of the ECB and the England players not playing in Zimbabwe. These are matters for the ECB and the players."

While the appeal process was taking place, the details of the security plan were outlined to David Morgan, the chairman of the ECB, and Richard Bevan, the managing director of the Professional Cricketers' Association. After that meeting, Bevan, who has been representing the players' interest, sid he was impressed with the plans that had been put in place.

However, that had no impact on the moral considerations that Hussain's players are mulling over. What might offer potential for compromise, though, is the fact that discussions also took place concerning shortening the England visit to Harare.

England's turmoil aside, the moment a nation has been waiting for finally arrives this evening at the Newlands Cricket Ground here. At a multi-million-rand opening ceremony, which is promised to be as big an extravaganza as that at the Sydney Olympics, South Africa will have reached fever pitch by the time President Thabo Mbeki officially declares the 2003 World Cup open.

For the players, officials and supporters of the 14 participating countries these are exciting times. The hard work has been put in, the preparation is complete.

The tournament is described as the most important thing to happen to the country in the 21st century. The Rugby World Cup in 1995 and the African Nations Cup of 1996 were considered christening presents as South Africa emerged into the post-apartheid era. But now, as a developing power, the Rainbow Nation wants to show what both it and Africa can do.

The tournament is the front page lead in the newspapers and four television channels are committed to showing every piece of action. The politics of the matches in Zimbabwe and Kenya get a fleeting mention but one senses they would like to pretend they were not there.

From tomorrow at the same stadium, when South Africa take on the West Indies in the opening game, the hype will stop and the success of the tournament will be in the hands of the players. How this event is remembered is down to them.

This will be the last time it is possible to see Shane Warne, Wasim Akram, Brian Lara, Allan Donald and Glenn McGrath play on the same stage. One can be sure each will want to put their own indelible mark on the competition.

This excitement was mixed with scepticism, however, as I flew in from East London. The route flies over a township and I wondered what proportion of those below are aware of what is about to take place.

The view from the hotel window is not a pretty sight, either. Each is protected like a fortress with wire fencing all around it and armed security guards standing on each corner. Every car has to be searched before it is allowed to enter the hotel grounds and there is the sense that every move is being watched. Every hotel has an X-ray machine to check baggage.

At the stadiums it is no better, with only ticket-holders being allowed within a certain distance of the ground.

Such security is not a reflection on cricket, it is a reflection of the world we live in. The England players will not be alone in thinking, "bloody hell, I only came here to play a game of cricket."