PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC)
With the International Cricket Council poised to decide Zimbabwe's future in the game today and tomorrow at their meeting in Dubai, the West Indies Cricket Board up until late yesterday was undecided on how it would vote.
England and South Africa have made clear their intentions, saying they would support a move to end Zimbabwe's tenure as a full member at the ICC.
This is in protest at what many Western states claim was the absence of democratic elections last week that allowed Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe to win a sixth term.
The 84-year-old Mugabe and his ZANU-PF Party have ruled Zimbabwe for the last 28 years and have been accused of destabilising the country.
A WICB top official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told CMC Sports Tuesday that he was still not sure how the board would vote, as the directors and the president, Dr Julian Hunte, were still corresponding on the issue.
Final position
Dr Hunte and WICB chief executive Dr Donald Peters are in Dubai for the meeting.
"Emails have been going to and fro and up until now there is no clear decision on how the West Indies Cricket Board will go," the official said.
"Some of the directors have shown some concerns that need to be cleared up before a final position is taken on the matter."
Last year, the WICB refused to send a West Indies 'A' team to Zimbabwe, fearing for the players' safety.
Zimbabwe Cricket managing director Ozias Bvute has urged the ICC not to impose sanctions.
"We are a full member of FIFA and are currently participating in a World Cup qualifying campaign. We have a swimming programme which has produced Kirsty Coventry, a recent winner in the world championships," Bvute said.
"So it would be strange that the only sport to take action on so-called current worries is cricket when all the other world sporting bodies have not taken that stance."
The ICC is meeting this week at its annual conference.
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