UK says backs ban on Zimbabwe cricket tour

By Adrian Croft

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain said on Tuesday it would support a ban on a tour next year by the Zimbabwe cricket team in protest at President Robert Mugabe's rule, but the decision was up to the sport's authorities.

The BBC's Inside Sport television programme said the government was looking at several options to stop next year's Zimbabwe cricket tour, including banning all Zimbabwean sports men and women from competing in Britain.

Zimbabwe reacted angrily, saying such a ban would be "racist".

Prime Minister Gordon Brown's spokesman denied Brown was considering a blanket ban.

"We continue to discuss Zimbabwe with the England (and Wales) Cricket Board. This is a matter for them. If they decide they want to ban Zimbabwe, that's a decision we would support," the spokesman said.

Cricket's governing body, the International Cricket Council (ICC), opposes sanctions on the Zimbabwe cricket team. Some news reports say a ban on Zimbabwe could threaten England's right to host the 2009 Twenty20 World Cup.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) declined comment.

The ECB is expected to be forced to pay large sums in compensation if the Zimbabwe matches are cancelled.