A DECISION could be made next week on whether the England cricket team will play in Zimbabwe during this year's World Cup. Joanne Rowe looks at the arguments around the issue.

ENGLISH cricket officials will sit around the table with Government ministers next week to discuss their controversial World Cup visit to Zimbabwe.

However, the English tradition of holding talk shops to solve serious problems is unlikely to prove totally successful this time.

The issue of whether sport and politics should mix is a thorny one which endless talking will not smooth out. Whatever the final decision, there will be plenty of people who disagree with it.

The question is: should the England cricket team tour a country suffering from political unrest which is also under the regime of Robert Mugabe, whose controversial policies include the persecution of white farmers?

A recent poll of backbench Labour MPs organised by the BBC revealed that 66 per cent of them felt the England cricketers should boycott the games.

Only 18 per cent felt England's game in Harare on February 13 should go ahead as planned. The rest abstained.

The difficulty of the situation is reflected in the opposing views of two of Bolton's Labour MPs.

Bolton North East MP David Crausby is among those who believe the exceptional political situation in the African country should mean that no English players go there. He described the land redistribution policies which have seen white farmers forced out of their homes as apartheid in reverse. He says: "In my view we shouldn't go. In general I think sport and politics shouldn't mix, but there are exceptions such as this."

However, Dr Brian Iddon is one of the backbench MPs who thinks the cricket team should play in Zimbabwe.

Dr Iddon believes the safety of the sportsmen should be the only consideration when deciding whether England cricketers should play in the African country.

He says: "I don't think sport and politics should mix unless the politics becomes very extreme and the players would be in danger.

"I support them going on this occasion. Cricket is a way of getting though to people with absurd views like Mr Mugabe."

Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell and Foreign Office Minister Baroness Amos have agreed to a request for talks but have stressed that the final decision lies with cricket bosses.

A statement said: "We expect the ECB to discuss their views and those of ministers about the England team playing in Zimbabwe.

"Whilst recognising the England and Wales Cricket Board will seek advice and information from the Government, the decision on whether or not to participate is ultimately for the ECB.

"The meeting will also consider the options the ECB has before it makes its final decision."

Morgan Tsvangirai, of Zimbabwe's opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change, is against England playing in his country. He said the England cricket captain would be endorsing Robert Mugabe's regime if the match went ahead.

Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith urged the Prime Minister to put "maximum pressure" on the cricketing authorities and the Commonwealth not to hold the World Cup in Zimbabwe.

He said: "Any sort of international attention he (Mugabe) will use for his own purposes and I think that's wrong."

England captain Nasser Hussain had pleaded with Tony Blair to spare his players the responsibility of deciding whether to play England's opening match in Zimbabwe, saying: "It's a political issue, it's a moral issue. You can't expect some of these young lads who are touring around the world to make a moral decision about Zimbabwe, an uninformed decision."

England are due to play six games in Zimbabwe, which is co-hosting the cricket World Cup with neighbouring South Africa.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) stood by its decision to go ahead with matches there and said England would forfeit its matches if it did not play because of political considerations.

ICC president Malcolm Gray said England could also have to pay compensation if they did not fulfil their February 13 fixture in Zimbabwe, which may total up to £1 million.

The Zimbabwe government accused Britain of using cricket to wage a propaganda war and whip up a "new wave of anti-Zimbabwe hysteria". Minister of state for information and publicity Jonathan Moyo told the state-run Herald newspaper: "This is obviously not about safety and security, it is just political mumbo-jumbo."

Questions that need answering

Q. Why are the politicians calling for England to boycott Zimbabwe?

A. President Mugabe's regime has been blamed for economic decline, an increase in violence and near-famine conditions in the country. Some politicians feel playing there would be a sign of support for Mugabe.

Q. What would happen if England pulled out?

A. They would automatically forfeit four points and could struggle to progress in to second round of the World Cup.

Q. What would happen if England went ahead with the game in Zimbabwe?

A. Political opponents say they will peacefully disrupt matches, although, they add that should not place the team in danger. The political row at home could also seriously affect the team's preparations.