Downing Street has further increased the pressure on Zimbabwe by refusing to distance themselves from their earlier remarks concerning England's participation in World Cup matches in Zimbabwe. Mike O'Brien, the foreign office minister, urged England to pull out of the scheduled fixtures due to Zimbabwe's current political crisis - despite the England & Wales Cricket Board's insistence that the country is fit to host the tournament - but did admit the final decision lay with the International Cricket Council and the ECB.

Mr O'Brien was quoted in the Guardian Newspaper as saying, "that decision should be taken in the light of what is happening in Zimbabwe and in recognition of the fact that the situation – political, economic and humanitarian – could deteriorate in the next few months. We will not issue orders to the ICC and ECB … but my personal view is that it would be better if they did not go."

A recent survey of 100 MPs undertaken by the BBC revealed that 66 per cent agreed with Mr O'Brien and thought England should stay away, despite the International Cricket Council's insistence that there was no reason why the matches shouldn't go ahead.

The virtual breakdown of many aspects of daily life in Zimbabwe, following Robert Mugabe's discredited re-election as president in March, may have been of little concern to ICC, but their findings have left many unimpressed.

Last week Michael Ancram, the Conservative foreign affairs spokesman, said that Mugabe would use the tournament as a chance to "strut on the world stage", adding that cricket should "say on behalf of these poor suffering people that the world is not going to do anything to give credit to Mugabe."

It is an argument which has found general cross-party agreement, but one which seems to have left Richard Caborn, the sports minister, unswayed. "If all the conditions are right as far as ICC is concerned, then that's the governing body, they make the decisions, not politicians." Caborn, however, may now be forced to re-examine his stance.

As for ICC, they continue to remain tight-lipped. "The report from the security council delegation that went to Zimbabwe has been circulated to all the member countries and we are collecting their comments," said a spokesman. "At the moment, until a decision is made, it would be inappropriate to comment on whether a team should be travelling to Zimbabwe."

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