Zimbabwe batsman and former captain Alistair Campbell has received a suspended ban from international cricket for saying the team was being "torn apart" by race issues.

The Zimbabwe Cricket Union has decided that Campbell, 29, had breached the International Cricket Conference code of conduct by making comments "detrimental to the game of cricket."

Campbell was interviewed by the Daily Telegraph after Zimbabwe had been beaten for the 10th time in a row in one-day internationals - a losing run which has now stretched to 16.

The team beating them were England, who themselves have a poor record in the shortened form of the game, but nevertheless managed to beat Zimbabwe 5-0.

Campbell said the ZCU was misguided by its moves to fit three black players into every game.

"Unpleasant"

He said: "The race thing has spilled onto the field, and there hasn't been the same commitment. The team are being torn apart.

"If race becomes an issue it makes things unpleasant for everybody. People want to see the best team representing their country."

But the ZCU was not impressed.

Following a formal inquiry headed by the Honourable Mr Justice Muchechetere, he was banned from playing in the next two Tests and two international one-day matches.

Condition

However, the bans were suspended on condition he does not breach the code of conduct again within the next 12 months.

The code concerned states: "Players or team officials shall not make any public pronouncement or media comment which is detrimental to the game of cricket or to a particular tour."

Problems of race have plagued cricket for many years in terms of national team selection in Zimbabwe.

Earlier this year, the ZCU under its president Peter Chingoka set up a body to examine how more non-whites could be brought into the game and its administration at top level.