England selector calls for Government guidance

England chairman of selectors David Graveney hopes the Government will respond swiftly to Nasser Hussain and Tim Lamb's pleas…

England chairman of selectors David Graveney hopes the Government will respond swiftly to Nasser Hussain and Tim Lamb's pleas for guidance over whether or not they should send a side to Zimbabwe for the World Cup.

Hussain today insisted it is not for him to decide if the World Cup opener against Zimbabwe in Harare should go ahead, while England and Wales Cricket Board chief executive Lamb insists his organisation have not been contacted by the Government with any advice.

Graveney, who earlier today expressed his own misgivings on an individual level about playing in the troubled southern African state, has called on the Government to liaise more closely with the ECB.

He told The Press Association: "As far as what happens now is concerned, an agreement needs to be reached between the ECB and the Government and hopefully they will respond to what Tim Lamb has said.

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"I can only echo what Nasser is saying. What is for certain is that it is not in the hands of the players, the decision needs to be made at a higher level."

Secretary of State for International Development Clare Short yesterday condemned plans to play in Zimbabwe, where the land redistribution programme instituted by President Robert Mugabe has led to the deaths of white farmers and severe food shortages across the country.