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Crickets Disgrace 24th January 2003 LONDON - Cricket's governing body has given the go-ahead for six World Cup matches to be played in Zimbabwe, a source close to the negotiations has said. England and Australia have resisted calls from their governments to boycott matches in Zimbabwe where President Robert Mugabe faces criticism over policies which opponents say have led to economic crisis and political unrest. The decision to keep the matches in Zimbabwe was taken by a tele-conference of the International Cricket Council's executive board on Friday, the source said. A press conference to announce the decision is due to be held at 15.30 pm in London. A decision is also expected on whether two World Cup games scheduled for Kenya will go ahead. World Cup executive director Ali Bacher and ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed visited Harare on Wednesday to assess security. The ICC, however, has made it clear it would continue to monitor the situation right up to start of the tournament on February 9. England play the first match in Zimbabwe, on February 13 in Harare. The tournament has been plagued by doubts over plans to hold matches in both Zimbabwe and Kenya, where security fears sharpened in December after suicide bombers killed 12 people in an attack on an Israeli-owned hotel in Mombasa. Forty six of the 54 World Cup matches are being held in South Africa. Reuters |