WE are two days away from the World Cup of cricket. Two days away from the opportunity to introduce the sport to a new audience and a new generation across the globe.

Sadly, there has been little excitement and anticipation ahead of Sunday's opening ceremony and opening game.

Instead, previews of the tournament have been hijacked by the confusion and controversy over whether England should play in Zimbabwe.

We have made our position plain on this matter. The Mugabe regime in Zimbabwe is abhorrent. We should not allow it the honour of playing host to professional sportsmen who represent our nation. That shows a misplaced respect for the regime.

There should be no criticism of the England players. This is a crisis not of their making. There should be criticism, however, for the British Government and the England and Wales Cricket Board, who together have conspired to turn one of the world's greatest sporting occasions into a farce.

Preparations for this World Cup began when the last tournament ended four years ago. It was known more than a year ago that England would have to play in Zimbabwe.

Why then was there no serious political debate on the fixture until five weeks ago?

The British Government has no right to ask the England team to boycott the match, unless it has the courage to halt trade with Zimbabwe and break off diplomatic ties.

After all, regular British Airways flights into Harare and the presence of Foreign Office staff do not reflect a dim view of the Mugabe regime.

The ECB also comes out of this whole affair with little or no credit.

Just three weeks ago it made a unanimous decision that the game should go ahead. Yesterday it was adamant that it shouldn't.

Such dithering has only served to increase the attention on a match, which is only one of 54 games in the World Cup. It has exacerbated the tension and anxiety surrounding the fixture, and probably added to the dangers facing the England team, officials and supporters.

And, most sadly of all, it has given a tyrant publicity he does not deserve.