The new chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board thinks it "probable" that Nasser Hussain's team will play in Zimbabwe during the World Cup.

David Morgan takes over from Lord MacLaurin on New Year's Day and will be immediately involved in ongoing discussions over whether England should fulfil the fixture in Harare on 13 February.

The ECB is under intense pressure from the government to pull out of the game because of the policies of the Mugabe regime.

But the International Cricket Council has ruled that it is safe for teams to play in Zimbabwe and England would face a fine of up to �1m and forfeit the points if they do not play the match as scheduled.

Morgan starts his new job amid controversy

ECB chief executive Tim Lamb is to meet Tessa Jowell, secretary of state for culture, media and sport and Foreign Office minister Baroness Amos next week to discuss the situation.

"I think we have to listen carefully to their arguments and we would expect them to listen to our concerns," Morgan told the BBC.

Asked whether he thought it likely that the government would agree to compensate the ECB if a fine was imposed, he replied: "probably not, but it isn't just finance that is important in this decision.

"The World Cup has a schedule of matches that has been in place for at least a year, and its on the basis based of the event being staged in the three countries of Zimbabwe, Kenya and South Africa."

Players' views

England spin bowler Ashley Giles believes the issue is too complicated to expect the players to make individual decisions.

Giles has been named in England's squad, even though he is recuperating from a broken wrist.

Giles: Players should not go it alone

He said: "All I have been thinking about for the past week is whether I was going to make the tour party or not, and not so much worried as to whether I was actually going to play in Zimbabwe.

"I will play wherever I am told to, or wherever we decide to as a team, or as a board, to play, then I will go along with that."

"I think a decision has to be made as a whole. It is a dangerous situation to start asking individuals to make choices. I hope it does not go that way."

Teammate Matthew Hoggard commented: "It's for the politicians and the ECB to decide, not me."

Australian Prime Minister John Howard has called, meanwhile, for all six countries due to play in Zimbabwe to stage a collective boycott.

The other four are India, Pakistan, Namibia and the Netherlands.