LONDON (CMC):

THE WEST Indies A team tour of Zimbabwe scheduled for next month has been scrapped, the Cricinfo website reported yesterday.

The A team was set to leave the Caribbean today for the southern Africa nation that included a series of three 'unofficial' Tests and two limited-overs matches between July 4 and 26.

Cricinfo reported, however, that West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) chief executive officer Bruce Aanansen wrote Zimbabwe Cricket to inform them of the decision.

"I regret to advise that in spite of our best efforts, and your unstinting support, we are now advised by the CARICOM Secretariat that, after careful consideration of a wide range of views, they regretfully have to change their position and advise the WICB that the tour should not take place," Aanansen wrote. "You will appreciate that we have to be guided by the wishes of the heads of government. Our apologies to Zimbabwe Cricket for any inconvenience caused by this late decision."

The WICB and the West Indies Players Association had failed to reach agreement on the tour because of serious security concerns. The WICB had been trying to find players, but several withdrew, including Sylvester Joseph, who had been named captain.

Regrettable decision

Lovemore Banda, the ZC media manager, described the WICB's decision as "regrettable".

"The training squad will remain in camp as we have a Zimbabwe A tour to South Africa at the end of July," he said. "We will also continue talking to other boards about A team tours as part of our on-going programme to expose our young side to top-level three or four-day cricket."

The WICB's decision comes at a time when the International Cricket Council, the sport's world governing body, is considering whether to allow Zimbabwe to regain Test status.