Blair unhappy at Zim tour

A boycott of Zimbabwe could bankrupt English cricket

Prime Minister Tony Blair has said he does not want the cricket tour of Zimbabwe to go ahead.

But he admitted that was different from ordering England to call off the proposed October tour.

Without direct government intervention the England and Wales Cricket Board would be heavily penalised by the International Cricket Council.

ECB officials are meeting with Foreign Secretary Jack Straw and Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell on Thursday.

Replying to Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy, Blair said for the government to order them to stay at home would be to "step over the proper line".

It is disappointing but unsurprising that a politician should attempt to shift the blame ICC president Ehsan Mani

Blair said: "My personal opinion ... was, as I said then, that we would prefer them not to go.

"But there is a difference between doing that and ordering them not to go which I think would step over the proper line.

"The Foreign Secretary is meeting the ECB tomorrow; I think many people however believe, I think rightly, that the problem actually resides with the ICC."

In a statement issued later on Wednesday, ICC president Ehsan Mani attacked Blair for trying to "divert attention" from his government over row.

"It is disappointing but unsurprising that a politician should attempt to shift the blame," Mani said.

If Blair doesn't want us to go, he should tell the ICC From Nick West Have your say on TMS

The Pakistani lawyer questioned Blair's inconsistency over Zimbabwe, as the UK still maintains diplomatic and trading links.

He claimed Blair's interest must be linked to his "overwhelming desire to secure the Olympics for London."

Mani added: "Mr Blair is seeking to divert attention away from his own inaction in dealing with Zimbabwe by attempting to exert inappropriate pressure on an international sporting body to make a political decision."

If England boycott, they could be fined £1.1m and face a suspension from international cricket, which may cost tens of millions of pounds.