The International Cricket Council (ICC) is to send a delegation to Zimbabwe before the end of the year to assess safety and security in the country prior to the 2003 World Cup.

The delegation will include the ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed, as well as representatives from each country due to play in Zimbabwe during the World Cup. The players will also be represented, along with the ICC's commercial partner, Global Cricket Corporation, and the insurance industry.

"There are a number of matches programmed in Zimbabwe, and the ICC will be taking all possible steps to fulfill this obligation," said the ICC president, Malcolm Gray.

"Part of ensuring this is to deal with any real or perceived concerns that any country may have about safety and security issues in Zimbabwe. This visit will provide the ICC and its key stakeholders with the opportunity to make a first-hand assessment of the situation in Zimbabwe."

Six preliminary round matches are due to be played in Zimbabwe, the first of them at Harare Sports Club between Zimbabwe and Namibia on February 10th. Zimbabwe meet England there on the 13th, and India on the 19th. The other three games are at the Queen's Ground, Bulawayo, where Zimbabwe's opponents are Australia, Holland and Pakistan.

The delegation will report back to the ICC within two weeks of the visit.

© CricInfo Ltd.