Sonn concludes Zimbabwe visit, assures time-table for Test return

Dubai, Aug 3 (UNI) Concluding their four-day visit to Zimbabwe, ICC President Percy Sonn and Chief Executive Malcolm Speed said they now have a better understanding of the situation in the country and promised to put together a time-table for the African nation's return to Test cricket.

''We met with Zimbabwe cricket's interim committee, the Honorable Minister for Education, Sport and Culture Mr Chigwedere, the national team's captain and coach and other stakeholders,'' an ICC release quoted Mr Sonn as saying.

''We were grateful for the opportunity to listen to and speak with everyone we met and, thanks to those meetings, we have a better understanding of the issues facing cricket in Zimbabwe,'' the ICC President added.

Earlier Mr Speed had said that Zimbabwe could be back to playing Test cricket within the next six months.

''Ultimately it will be a decision of the ICC board but there will be an evaluation first,'' Mr Speed had told a press conference in Harare.

Mr Sonn said they would now report their assessment of the situation to the ICC Executive Board and discuss the time-frame for Zimbabwe's return to Test cricket.

''Mr Speed and I will now report back on what we have found to the ICC's Executive Board at the next meeting, scheduled for November,'' he said.

''Either side of that meeting we will continue to monitor and support cricket in Zimbabwe in any way we can and, working with its administrators, we will seek to put in place a timetable for the national team's return to Test cricket when appropriate,'' he added.

UNI XC PM AY VP1307