Zimbabwe's second string team lost to Sri Lanka and Australia

Zimbabwe's Cricket Union agreed to the move after talks on Thursday with the International Cricket Council about a dispute with 15 rebel white players

It would mean that if England go ahead with their tour scheduled for October and November, they will only play one-day internationals.

International Cricket Council president Ehsan Mani stressed that it was only a temporary measure.

Mani added in an ICC statement that the meeting demonstrated "the depth of concern in the international cricket community over the impact the dispute in Zimbabwe is having on the game.

"The package of measures strikes a balance in protecting the sport in Zimbabwe while ensuring that the issues that arise from the dispute, including the importance of the players to the ZCU and the integrity of the game, are transparently addressed."

The decision, which affects a tour by Pakistan as well as England, is subject to final approval by the ICC's Executive Board on 30 June but that appears to be a formality.

Zimbabwe cricket has been in turmoil in recent weeks following the sacking of former national team captain Heath Streak.

It resulted in a boycott by 15 white players, forcing Zimbabwe to field a team of raw, predominantly black, youngsters in home series against Sri Lanka and Australia.

The Test matches against Australia were called off with both the tourists and the ICC voicing concern about protecting the "integrity" of Test cricket.

Mani said he had given an assurance by the Zimbabwe Cricket Union that the rebels could now return "without any conditions".

And he added: "Zimbabwe will continue to play Test matches according to the ICC's 10-year programme from January 2005 onwards."

Officials from Zimbabwe, Australia, South Africa and India attended an emergency meeting on Thursday in Dubai to discuss the situation.

It's a sensible move by both sides to give Zimbabwe some breathing space ICC media spokesman Brendan McClements England reaction

They also recommended that India and South Africa undertake A team tours to Zimbabwe in July and August to give the home side more first-class experience.

The meeting focused on three areas: allegations and counter allegations of racism made by the players and the Zimbabwe Cricket Union, ways in which the dispute could be resolved and Zimbabwe's immediate playing future.

Streak, who is now playing in England for Warwickshire, called for his country to be banned from all international cricket earlier this week.

The 'rebel' group, which also includes another former Zimbabwe skipper, Stuart Carlisle, and senior batsman Grant Flower, have repeatedly insisted their protest was not racially motivated.

In a statement issued earlier this week, they said: "Our actions were in protest at the unfair and discriminatory employment practices perpetrated against us by individuals of the Zimbabwe Cricket Union."

It continued: "As patriotic citizens of the country we love, we still hope a solution will be achieved and that we can soon return to playing for Zimbabwe."

The move adds another twist to the saga over England's tour, which has rumbled on for several months.

The rebels may now be invited to return to the fold

Although concerned about the moral implications of visiting Zimbabwe, the England and Wales Cricket Board had indicated they were likely to approve the tour because of the threat of a heavy fine and possible ban from the ICC.

The decision will also affect Zimbabwe's tour to Pakistan in October, but the ICC expects their one-day programme against both Pakistan and England to be unaffected.

"The decision only applies to Test cricket so the one-day fixtures that are currently in the calendar remain and the expectation today is that they will continue," ICC media spokesman Brendan McClements told the BBC.

The Pakistan Cricket Board support the decision.

"Since all the boards were concerned about a weakened Zimbabwe team, we feel this decision has preserved the sanctity of the Test cricket.

"We can't ask for a replacement team as this is a mutual decision between the ZCU and the ICC but instead we would like to play six one-day games or a tri-series by involving another team which is free in October when we host Zimbabwe," said chief executive Rameez Raja.