Zimbabwe to put case for England tour

Zimbabwe officials will have a chance to put their views to England's hierarchy later this month when they discuss the controversial autumn tour of the African nation.

The England and Wales Cricket Board is to discuss the tour at a board meeting at Lord's on 20 April. Three members of the Zimbabwe Cricket Union will attend. The ZCU's chairman, Peter Chingoka, the legal affairs director, Alwyn Pichanick, and the board member Ozias Bvute will be involved.

The proposed tour has been the subject of speculation since England refused to play a World Cup fixture in Harare last year. Following considerable pressure from the Government and human rights groups the ECB pulled out of the game.

That cost England the chance to reach the Super Sixes stage of the competition and led to speculation that they would not tour Zimbabwe later this year.

The International Cricket Council discussed the issue last month but fell short of threatening England with censure if they failed to fulfil the tour.