2.7.2008
Cricinfo staff

The discussion on Zimbabwe's status within the ICC has been postponed until Thursday. The two-day board meeting, which began in Dubai today, dealt with other business first before moving on to what is the major issue.

Zimbabwe was the last point on the agenda and the debate was delayed by a lengthy discussion of the England-Pakistan Oval Test in 2006, which has been changed from a forfeiture to a draw.

Now, though, the executives can put all their focus on the future of Zimbabwe. England and South Africa have already cut ties in recent weeks, but Zimbabwe Cricket has been building support from the Asian bloc nations in a bid to retain its place as a Full Member.

The feeling around the meeting is that a compromise will be struck, whereby Zimbabwe keep their status but are dropped from the ICC World Twenty20 next year, meaning England will be able to retain the event.

There has been a subtle change of tone from within the ICC about how they are hoping to deal with Zimbabwe. Although the move by the ECB and Cricket South Africa is heavily based around the politics involved, the ICC is now set to make a decision for cricket-based reasons.

"It's not a political issue, it's a cricket issue," Ray Mali, who later this week will hand over the presidency to David Morgan, told Cricinfo on Tuesday. "We are not the ones to debate on politics. It's not about Zimbabwe's membership in the ICC, either. Not at all. What we are concerned about is how to strengthen the game in Zimbabwe, how to encourage more cricketing interaction with them at any level."

Courtesy - cricinfo