ICC switches conference to Dubai

The International Cricket Council's annual conference will take place in Dubai rather than at Lord's to allow the Zimbabwe Cricket boss to attend.

Zimbabwe Cricket chairman Peter Chingoka was refused a UK visa in 2007 and had further problems this year.

An ICC statement said the Dubai switch was so "all delegates required to attend would be permitted entry".

The week-long conference starts on 29 June and will see Welshman David Morgan take over as ICC president.

Haroon Lorgat, of South Africa, will take up the post of chief executive officer at the same time.

Malcolm Speed, the Australian who Lorgat will replace, will be on paid leave from 30 April until the end of his contract on 4 July.

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"I haven't much time for Speed but I think this time at least he was trying to do the right thing"
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Speed leaves under a cloud after personal differences with other ICC executives about the funding of cricket in Zimbabwe.

ICC president Ray Mali, a South African, insisted a specially commissioned report on Zimbabwe Cricket's finances would remain secret.

In November 2005, most Zimbabwean cricketers went on strike over unpaid salaries, refusing to play until Chingoka quit.

But Chingoka continued regardless and emerged as head of an interim executive appointed by Robert Mugabe's government.

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