'English players will not shake Mugabe's hand'

England captain Nasser Hussain will not shake President Robert Mugabe's hand in any pre-match ceremony should the team go ahead with its World Cup match in Zimbabwe.

England and Wales Cricket Board Chief Executive Tim Lamb told BBC Radio on Monday: "We've made it perfectly clear that we are not going to put our players, Nasser Hussain -- or indeed myself, because I shall be out at the match -- in a situation where we have to shake hands with the president of Zimbabwe.

"If there is any suggestion such a ceremony will be arranged then we will decline to participate."

The team is under pressure from the British government to pull out of its opening match of the World Cup in protest against Mugabe's policies, which include the forcible eviction of white farmers from their land.

The ECB's 15-member board is due to meet at Lord's on Tuesday to decide whether England should go ahead with the match.

ECB Chairman David Morgan has already indicated that he expects the board to go ahead with the match.

He said, "I went to Zimbabwe recently and I know there is a morally reprehensible regime in place in that country.

"But we believe there are many more meaningful ways in which the British government and the international community can express its displeasure at President Mugabe."

The World Cup 2003: The Complete Coverage

Mail Cricket Editor