Stalemate on Zimbabwe issue, ICC to meet on Friday

With the Asian bloc, led by BCCI, throwing its weight behind the strife-torn African nation, Zimbabwe will wait anxiously for its fate after England and South Africa pressed for its ouster from ICC because of political turmoil in the country.

With representatives of the 10 Full Members failing to reach a consensus, the Executive Board meeting was extended by a day.

South Africa first snapped bilateral ties with Zimbabwe and then England followed suit, declining to host the African nation later in 2008 after Robert Mugabe was elected again as president of the African nation.

BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah has already made it clear that India does not support the move to suspend Zimbabwe, a stance that finds support from Pakistan and Sri Lanka as well.

England and South Africa would have to garner two-third majority — seven votes out of 10 members — to get their resolution through and it’s not known if Zimbabwe would be allowed to vote on the issue.

In case Zimbabwe survives the crisis and remains an ICC Full Member, England might lose the hosting rights of next year’s Twenty20 World Championships because the British government is likely to deny visa to Zimbabwean players.

Though Zimbabwe’s Test status remains temporarily suspended, the team continues to take part in ODI tournaments.