Tim Lamb will lead the ECB delegation

England and Wales Cricket Board officials will have an "open mind" when they meet government ministers later this week to discuss the situation in Zimbabwe.

England are due to play their opening World Cup match in Harare, but there is intense political pressure on them to boycott the game as a protest against the Mugabe regime.

The consequences would be serious if England go it alone as they would not only forfeit the points for the match, and thereby reduce their chances of progressing in the tournament, but also face the likelihood of a seven figure fine.

Chief executive Tim Lamb, director of corporate affairs John Read and deputy chairman Michael Soper will represent the ECB at Thursday's meeting.

ECB chairman David Morgan told BBC Radio Five Live that if they were persuaded that a change of policy was the right thing to do, a meeting of the management board would then be convened to allow a final decision to be made.

"We will be very interested to hear the views of the government and I am hopeful that they will listen to our concerns too," he said.

"We will have to question the fact that there has been no break in diplomatic relations between the UK and Zimbabwe.

"There are no trade sanctions and we will have to ask the question 'Why should cricket in England and Wales be the only business required to stop trading with Zimbabwe?'"

England not turning up - would that have any effect on the current regime? Doubtful, I think David Morgan

Morgan fears a possible split among the international cricket fraternity, with India and Pakistan having already made it clear that they will fulfil fixtures there in Zimbabwe.

"I'm not 100 per cent happy to be seen to be supporting the regime in Zimbabwe.

"But I would not be 100 per cent happy either in seeing a whole cascade of consequences, which would have a huge effect on the game, not just here but worldwide," he said.

"I think the probability is that the fixtures will be fulfilled."

David Gower believes England should not go

Former England captain David Gower has, meanwhile, added his voice to those opposed to England playing in Zimbabwe.

"The Zimbabwe captain Heath Streak is the only player to say England should go, but you have to remember the job is a quasi-political appointment.

"If you say the wrong things you will be out, which is why Alistair Campbell and Stuart Carlisle have been dropped from their squad," Gower commented.

"It has also been suggested that 5,000 people are depending on the World Cup matches being played in Zimbabwe, yet there are seven million on the edge of starvation - those figures do not add up to me."