Zim row puts £5m at risk
England are almost certain to lose the right to host this autumn's ICC Champions Trophy and an estimated £5million in revenue if they refuse to tour Zimbabwe.
Tickets for the mini World Cup, which is scheduled for 10 to 25 September, are due to go on sale on 1 April, but there is a growing movement in the International Cricket Council to move the lucrative competition to another country.
The England and Wales Cricket Board are still to sign the hosting agreement for the tournament and it now appears likely that the ICC executive will vote to switch it to India when they meet in New Zealand next week. Lord's estimate losses of £5m if the 15-game showcase is moved.
All gate receipts go to the host country while the TV and sponsorship rights are split. The deficit would rise if India pull out of September's three-match warm-up series for the 10-team event.
The Oval game on 3 September is already sold out.
An ICC source said: "There is definitely a clamour to move it out of England. The issue of England planning not to go to Zimbabwe has created a great deal of angst among the ICC members."
