Zimbabwe pulls out of world Twenty20 but keeps ICC status

Jul 4, 2008, 10:02 GMT

Dubai, UAE - Zimbabwe will remain a full member of the International Cricket Council (ICC) but has pulled out of next year's Twenty20 world championships in England, it emerged Friday after a meeting of the council in Dubai.

In a compromise deal, the sport's governing body decided Zimbabwe would not be be suspended from international cricket.

Both England and South Africa broke off cricketing relations last week in protest against the deteriorating political situation in that country.

It had, however, become clear that the Zimbabwe team would not be granted visas by Britain for next summer's world Twenty20.

In a statement, the ICC said Zimbabwe Cricket had taken note that the British government was likely to refuse to grant visas.

'Therefore, the Zimbabwe delegation has decided to recommend to its board that the team should withdraw from that event,' it said.

It added: 'The Zimbabwe delegation has agreed to take this decision in the greater interest of world cricket and the ICC. This recommendation should be viewed as a one-off and will not be taken as a precedent.'

Zimbabwe Cricket Union president Peter Chingoka said his country had voluntarily pulled out of the event but 'will continue to be a full member of the ICC and welcome any team that wants to play against us.'