Zimbabwe tour decision still faces Vaughan

England have been saved from making a Test tour of Zimbabwe, but Michael Vaughan and Co still face an agonising decision over whether to go there this autumn.

Zimbabwe will play no more Test cricket until 2005, having volunteered - before they were ordered - to postpone plans to visit Pakistan and then England for two matches.

But, while the International Cricket Council examine allegations of racism by 15 white players, Zimbabwe can carry on with their programme of one-day internationals.

That means England are still likely to tour in November as scheduled. But the British government would prefer Vaughan's team to stay away from Zimbabwe altogether.

However, England fear an ICC fine of £1million plus the possibility of even more costly retaliatory measures from other countries. So, come September time, the selectors are likely to pick a one-day squad under Vaughan's captaincy - and then see how many of their chosen players will travel.

"If any player cannot go for reasons of personal conscience that will not be held against them," said England and Wales Cricket Board chairman David Morgan.

There is no moral judgement in Zimbabwe's effective suspension from Test cricket. It is simply that without most of their leading players they cannot compete over five days and the ICC are worried about the game's integrity.