Cricket: England opt not to appeal Zimbabwe ruling

11.00pm

JOHANNESBURG - England will not appeal against the decision to award Zimbabwe the points from their cancelled World Cup Group A match, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) says.


"After careful consideration the ECB has decided not to appeal," ECB chief executive Tim Lamb said today. "We have done everything in our power to persuade the ICC of the merits of our case. The issue has gone on long enough and it's time to move on in the interests of the cricket World Cup."



Lamb described the weeks of wrangling over the match scheduled for February 13 in Harare as a "protracted and unfortunate episode", but suggested that the English ruling body could still resort to legal action.


"The ECB does not agree with the decision of the technical committee and have been advised by our lawyers that the decision is legally incorrect," Lamb said.


England refused to play in Harare because of concerns over players' safety in the strife-torn country. The International Cricket Council (ICC) maintained that Zimbabwe was safe to stage World Cup matches.

- REUTERS

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