Zimbabwe series off

Cricket Australia have confirmed that the one-day international series between Australia and Zimbabwe will not go ahead.

After the Australian government banned Ricky Ponting’s side from touring the troubled African nation, there remained the possibility that the series - scheduled for September - could be held in a neutral country.

But following discussions between Zimbabwe Cricket Union chief executive Ozias Bvute and his counterpart at Cricket Australia, James Sutherland, it has been confirmed this will not be happen.

“Mr Bvute made it very clear that playing the series at a neutral venue was not a possibility,” a Cricket Australia spokesman said.

“We can now say definitely that the series will not be happening, inside or outside Zimbabwe.

“The next international engagement for Australia will be the ICC Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa in September.”