Players back ECB stance on Zimbabwe

England team 'are perfectly happy' to go to Harare after governing body refuses to boycott World Cup game

A handful of protesters forced the England and Wales Cricket Board on to the back foot yesterday by breaching the usually impregnable security at Lord's and forcing the ECB's chief executive, Tim Lamb, to delay the announcement that next month's World Cup match against Zimbabwe in Harare will go ahead despite the Government's opposition.

After a 90-minute delay and a change of room because of the actions of the nine protesters – led by the human rights and gay rights activist Peter Tatchell – who caused chaos when they invaded the bar earmarked for the press conference, the ECB reinforced its stance that it is not for turning.

Lamb remained unmoved during a 45-minute grilling after announcing the unanimous decision of the ECB management board against boycotting the match on 13 February in protest at the regime of the Zimbabwean President, Robert Mugabe.

"We are going to honour our commitment to play Zimbabwe," Lamb said. "Even if England were to make a unilateral gesture and withdraw from our match, there are still another five World Cup matches which are due to take place in Zimbabwe. Unless it is for safety and security reasons, Zimbabwe will not be deprived of its opportunity to co-host the World Cup in accordance with an agreement that was drawn up in 1994."

Lamb revealed that the England team, who are in Adelaide, have backed the decision to go. "There has been no indication that any player wishes to withdraw," he said. "We have been working very closely with the Professional Cricketers' Association and the England players' representatives. Our advice is that all the players are perfectly happy to be guided by the ECB and have confirmed in the last 24 hours that, as things stand, they will fulfil their obligations to play this match.

"The ECB will not expect its players to go if there's any perceived risk or specific advice from the appropriate sources that their safety could be at risk."

Lamb's comments on security were made without knowing that the mayor of Harare now feels unable to guarantee the safety of visiting teams.

Lamb outlined the ECB's perception that it is "perverse and unfair" for them to have to been placed in a difficult situation by the Government when there is no sporting or business boycott of Zimbabwe.

Mike Soper, the chairman of Surrey, chair of the First Class Forum, and deputy-chairman of the ECB, chaired the meeting of the ECB management board that made the final decision. Twelve of the 15 members were present and, after a two-hour meeting, all voted for the game to go ahead.

Soper also made clear that the financial affect of a boycott would cause "an unmitigated disaster" for English cricket and affect the game at grass-roots level for years to come. The ECB has maintained that a legal case could cost cricket in this country upwards of £10m in addition to a potential £1m fine by the ICC. The Government had refused to offer any compensation, despite making clear they wanted the team to pull out, although they do not oppose Zimbabwe touring England in the summer.

Lamb pointed out that the Government still maintains diplomatic relations with Zimbabwe, that British Airways still fly there, and that the African state is still a member of the Commonwealth.

A spokesman for the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, said the Government had told the ECB it would prefer them to call of the match. "They have taken a different decision," he said. "We accept their decision."

Ali Bacher, the World Cup tournament director, said: "In making this decision England are committing themselves to the principles of international cricket, one of which is to develop the game in all regions of the world."

Percy Sonn, the president of the United Cricket Board of South Africa, also applauded the ECB's stance. "England has given Zimbabwe a privilege. Without England, cricket there will be dead."

Brendan McClements, an ICC spokesman, said: "Our position has been well known, that Zimbabwe is a country where it is safe to play cricket. All the ECB have done with the announcement of today's decision is reconfirm their commitments they previously gave to the ICC. They have been true to their word."

Lamb said that England will not take part in any pageantry and that there would no symbolic handshakes with Mugabe.

"Our players will not take part in any ceremony which could be seen to be supporting the regime," Lamb said. "We are fully aware there would be a hoo-hah if there were pictures of Nasser Hussain, the England players or myself shaking the hand of Robert Mugabe. That would be totally unacceptable."