A delegation from the International Cricket Council (ICC) will make a trip to the country later this month to help decide whether six matches scheduled for Harare and Bulawayo can go ahead.

The delegation, headed by ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed, will spend three days in the country from 26 November, and will prepare a report within 10 days.

"The ICC and its members are only concerned with cricket-related issues," said Gray in a statement.

"While some countries have imposed specific sanctions on Zimbabwe, no government in any part of the world has identified sporting sanctions as an appropriate tool to achieve a political outcome."

The Australian team refused to tour Zimbabwe in March, citing fears of possible election violence, after their government advised its citizens not to travel.

India, Namibia, the Netherlands and Pakistan, who are currently on tour in the country, are the other teams expected to make the trip.

Should security concerns prove founded, the matches could be moved to South Africa where the bulk of the tournament is due to be staged.

The delegation will include James Sutherland and Tim Lamb, chief executives of the Australian and English cricket board respectively, and player representative Tim May.

Australia and West Indies forfeited a match each against Sri Lanka during the 1996 World Cup over security concerns in Colombo.