Cricket: ICC left stumped on site for HQ

By RICHARD BOOCK

The battle over the future location of the International Cricket Council took another twist yesterday when the British Government weighed in with a fresh proposal - thought to involve either financial or tax relief.

Presently split between its traditional base at Lord's and its tax haven in Monaco, the ICC is gearing up to move to a single headquarters, possibly in Dubai or Malaysia.

However, a submission from the British sports ministry, lodged on the eve of the meeting, apparently contained information that persuaded delegates to defer a decision until the next meeting in October.

ICC president Ehsan Mani said yesterday that three new locations were being considered, but said the eleventh hour submission from the British Government pushed the issue back to the drawing board.

"Proposals from the United Kingdom, Dubai and Malaysia were under consideration at the meeting," he said.

"The financial benefits to our members varied between the three options but a submission from UK Sport on the eve of the meeting raised a number of issues that require further analysis."

The meeting also endorsed a recommendation from an earlier sub-committee meeting in Dubai about the immediate playing future of the Zimbabwe national side.

The politically-ravaged African team, which lost most of its side to a boycott in April, has been suspended from test cricket until 2005 but will be allowed to fulfil its standing ODI commitments.

That means Zimbabwe will still compete in the Champions Trophy in September, and in the scheduled ODI series against England and Pakistan in October and November.

Mani said the ICC's focus was predominantly on the international implications of the issue, and that there was little option but to protect the integrity of test cricket.

"Zimbabwe will continue to play ODI cricket, which is an important pathway in providing players with the skills and exposure to perform at international level.

"By providing the chance for Zimbabwe to continue playing at this level, the ICC is ensuring that the game in that country is given every opportunity to survive."

The meeting also elected the inimitable South African cricket administrator Percy Sonn to a one-year term as vice-president of the ICC, an interesting decision given the man's chequered record during last year's World Cup.

One of the South African officials responsible for banning liquor at the World Cup matches, Sonn made the headlines after becoming hopelessly drunk at a private suite during the India-Netherlands match at Paarl.

According to veteran South African motor racing driver Sarel van der Merwe, Sonn used obscene and abusive language to official guests, and was so drunk "he was literally falling out of his pants".

The following day Sonn, a part-time South African judge, told reporters: "I'm a person who likes my liquor.

"If I used foul language, it was most probably suitable in the circumstances."

He later issued a full and unconditional apology.