New Delhi, Nov 13: Admitting that it was not in a position to compel England to tour Zimbabwe next year, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has said it would be impossible for the game's world body to penalise teams which do not fulfil bilateral touring commitments. "This is very much a bilateral issue between England and Zimbabwe," ICC President Ehsan Mani Mani said here yesterday. "There are no sanctions the ICC would impose on anyone," the ICC chief clarified. Malcom Speed, the ICC's chief executive, also endorsed Mani's statement. "The ICC is very keen for all scheduled tours to take place and I hope this situation doesn't arise. But tours between countries are different from an ICC event such as the World Cup the ICC champions trophy. They are based on a contract that exists between the two national boards," speed was quoted as saying by Cricinfo website.

Although it is almost a year away, media speculation has already started over the fate of England's Zimbabwe tour.
Last month Lord Maclaurin, the former England and Wales cricket board chairman, speaking in his capacity as chairman of English cricket's sponsor Vodafone, warned that his company might pull their four-million-pound sponsorship if the trip went ahead against the backdrop of civil unrest and famine in Zimbabwe.

Other dissenting voices have raised public objections and another moral campaign against the tour is almost certain.

Mani's comments mean that a major obstacle - possible punitive fines by the ICC - blocking the ECB from taking a firm stand has also been removed.
Bureau Report