England set to scrap Zimbabwe tour

England are preparing to abandon their cricket tour of Zimbabwe.

As violence continues to grow in the African state, cricket chiefs and the Foreign Office accept the tour is in serious jeopardy.

With more white farmers being attacked and their homes ransacked in the former British colony, England gave the clearest signs yet today that the tour will not go ahead by delaying naming the squad until next week.

Amid growing anti-British rhetoric from President Robert Mugabe and increasing assaults on white farmers, the Foreign Office fears England players could be a target if they travel to the country next month.

British diplomats in Harare are providing daily updates, which are relayed via the Foreign Office to cricket authorities at Lord's.

The England and Wales Cricket Board says its final decision on whether to go ahead will be based solely on the safety of players, not on political grounds. If players are contracted to tour they have to be paid, even if it is cancelled for political reasons.

The team are due to fly out on 26 September for a threeweek trip, playing five oneday internationals in Harare and Bulawayo.

However, much of Zimbabwe has descended into chaos, with militant supporters of Mr Mugabe waging war on farmers, many of whom hold British passports, as well as their black workers.