Zimbabwe's cricketing future is set to be decided Friday when the International Cricket Council holds an unscheduled third day of debate on whether the African country should have its international status withdrawn. At its annual meeting, the ICC's executive board agreed to change the result of a forfeited match in 2006 between England and Pakistan to a draw rather than an England win and the game's governing body also ordered a final security report before deciding if Pakistan can host the Champions Trophy later this year. Zimbabwe remains the outstanding issue on the agenda, with the four-nation Asian bloc seemingly reluctant to downgrade its status to ICC associate member after England and South Africa severed all bilateral cricketing ties in protest at the lack of fair elections and a worsening human rights situation in the country. Attempts are being made for Zimbabwe to suspend itself, while keeping some or all of the $11 million annual funding from the ICC and voting rights that, together with the four-nation Asian bloc, form a bulwark against the other Test-playing nations. If this solution goes ahead, that will allow England to host the Twenty20 World Cup next June, which is otherwise likely to be moved to Canada, the designated backup host, if Zimbabwe is invited to the ICC event. The forfeited Test between Pakistan and England at The Oval in 2006 sparked by a ball-tampering row has been changed to a draw because the ICC said “the original result of the match was felt to be inappropriate.” The ICC has taken the power from umpires to decide on a similar issue, amending its code of conduct to ensure that high-level breaches of the rules are instead referred to an adjudicator within the ICC Appeals Commissioners. The ICC confirmed that Sri Lanka is the alternate host for the Champions Trophy in September – a One-Day International tournament featuring the top eight teams in the world – if a final security report within 10 days of the Asian Cup finishing on July 6 demonstrates that Pakistan is unsafe. Also decided at the executive meeting: – Former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd was appointed ahead of former Pakistan batsman Majid Khan as the new chairman of the ICC cricket committee, replacing Sunil Gavaskar who is stepping down. – The ICC will further examine a proposal by Cricket Australia to establish a Test championship to help keep the longest format of the sport as its pinnacle in response to the dramatic success of Twenty20 cricket. – The ICC upheld West Indies batsman Marlon Samuel's two-year ban by the Windies board in May for breaking rules intended to prevent players from betting on matches. – In the event of a tie at the Champions Trophy and Twenty20 World Cup, there will be a one-over eliminator instead of a “bowl-out,” which had five bowlers from each side attempting to hit an unguarded set of stumps. – Players will no longer be able to be replaced if they leave the field to go to the toilet. – If neither umpire is able to determine if a catch has been cleanly taken, they can ask the third umpire if there is definitive proof either way and the bowler's end umpire will then give the final decision after the consultation. – AP __
