England could still gain a reprieve from their controversial World Cup match in Zimbabwe on safety grounds.

The International Cricket Council today sent what is effectively a second security inspection team to the strife-strewn African country to re-assess the potential risks.

ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed and tournament director Dr Ali Bacher are due to report back to the ICC board tomorrow.

England's players have discussed concerns tabout fulfilling their February 13 fixture in Harare with England and Wales Cricket Board chairman David Morgan, from Newport.

Although none of the 15-man World Cup party indicated they would pull out of the match, ECB concerns over security continue.

Morgan, who will be involved in Friday's meeting via tele-link from Melbourne, said: "We will have a report on Zimbabwe then and if that report says that safety and security is ok then it will still have to be kept under review.

"The players want to be assured the position remains as it was.

"Any deterioration, any risk to their safety and security, they would certainly be unhappy to go.

"I think the only thing that will stop the game taking place is for Malcolm Speed and Ali Bacher to come back with a report to the effect that safety and security is not as good as it was first thought," added Morgan.

If the ICC decide Zimbabwe is not fit to host their matches, a contingency plan is in place to switch games to South Africa.

That would prove a get-out for the ECB, though Morgan is adamant that unless Zimbabwe is deemed unsafe, England, like India, Pakistan, Namibia, Holland and Australia, will honour their commitments.