Between February 9 and March 23, 2003, the eighth cricket World Cup will unfold in the African continent. Most of the 54 matches will be played in South Africa. Six are planned in Zimbabwe and two in Kenya. In 1993, South Africa had won the right to play host. As Ali Bacher, executive director of the tournament, explains, "We decided to give some games to Zimbabwe and Kenya to spread cricket in Africa. That was our viewpoint."

While Bacher's "viewpoint has not changed", his region's politics has. Zimbabwe is in turmoil; President Robert Mugabe's regime, condemned as repressive, is an international pariah. There is serious danger of Australia, England and, probably, Holland refusing to play their preliminary matches in Harare and Bulawayo.

The apprehensions were voiced at the recent Champions Trophy in Colombo. In November, an International Cricket Council (ICC) inspection delegation is visiting Zimbabwe-its recce will coincide with a tour by Pakistani cricketers-to take a look.

LAND BEFORE WICKET: Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe's anti-white farm laws have targeted even cricketer Heath Streak (right)

The ICC delegation will comprise Chief Executive Malcolm Speed, administrators from every country-India, Pakistan and Namibia are the others-due to play in Zimbabwe and a players' representative. Accompanying them will be an official from Global Cricket Corporation, the ICC's partner for the 2003 and 2007 World Cups, and an insurance specialist.

Since cricket is a polite, genteel pastime, coarse expressions such as "boycott" aren't part of its lexicon. "Opting out due to security reasons" is another matter. In 1996, the World Cup was co-hosted by India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. After a Tamil Tiger attack in Colombo, Australia and the West Indies refused to travel there-and lost points.

Will there be a replay seven years later? Lucia Muvingi, Zimbabwe's high commissioner to India, says her Government "will ensure the safety of players". "You have to distinguish," the lady argues, "between a political problem and a security problem."

Mugabe's Government has been in the doghouse primarily because of an unorthodox, state-approved land "reforms" programme that, to independent minds, seems little more than smash and grab. In essence white farmers-many of British descent-are being thrown off their substantial homesteads. Even the family of Heath Streak, Zimbabwe's best known cricketer, has been targeted.

Earlier this year, Mugabe also conducted an election amid allegations of rigging and violence. After this the Commonwealth suspended Zimbabwe. A London-based diplomat rates the chances of Nasser Hussain's men not playing as "very high". In Canberra, Prime Minister John Howard had asked the Australian Cricket Board to cancel a tour of Zimbabwe earlier in 2002.

On his part, Bacher points to a "high powered security directorate comprising 85 close protection officers and budgeted at 16 million rands" to allay all fears. He warns that any team that doesn't turn up to play as promised is likely to forfeit points. While the ICC is "not open" to playing the matches elsewhere, Mark Harrison, the council's communications manager, says it is "realistic to the need to be flexible".

India, neutral on Zimbabwe and refusing to read any analogies with Pakistan-which it fought to isolate in the Commonwealth after the 1999 coup-is not really involved. Even so, if cricket gets divided yet again along a supposedly "racial" faultline, you know who'll be thrusting his sweaty nose right in the middle.