No cricket board can be held to ransom and the issue with the rebel players must be resolved quickly UCB president Ray Mali

United Cricket Board president Ray Mali said the postponement of Australia's Test series against Zimbabwe was "very much in line with our thinking".

"We would not like to play against an inferior Zimbabwe team," Mali said.

"So we will be doing everything possible to assist them in the development of a top-class side."

South Africa are scheduled to host Zimbabwe in February next year.

Zimbabwe's team has been decimated by a dispute between 15 rebel players, who walked out after Heath Streak was sacked as captain, and the cricket board.

Mali said the UCB would continue to work behind the scenes with the Zimbabwe Cricket Union to help resolve the issue.

"I have spent the last two weeks talking to the Zimbabwe Cricket Union as the representative of our board and things have turned out the way we wanted," he said.

"But no cricket board can be held to ransom and the issue with the rebel players must be resolved quickly."

Zimbabwe called off their two-Test series against Australia on Friday, one day before the first match was due to begin in Harare.

The International Cricket Council will hold a meeting next month, with Zimbabwe's Test status sure to be discussed.

"It's over a month away right now and that gives the Zimbabwe Cricket Union (ZCU) a chance to resolve some of their differences with their players," Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland said.

"I think that (Zimbabwe's Test status) is a question that has probably come on to the table and is higher on the agenda now than it has ever been before."