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Compromise has been reached at the ICC board meeting in Dubai - Zimbabwe will withdraw from next year's World Twenty20, although they will still receive their appearance money for the event. Zimbabwe's participation in other ICC events and the Future Tours Programme appears to be unaffected. The ICC issued the following statement:

“The Zimbabwe delegation to ICC Annual Conference week is aware of the decision of the British government not to allow its bilateral series in England in 2009 to go ahead.

“Zimbabwe Cricket has also taken note that the British government is likely to refuse to grant visas for the Zimbabwe cricket team to take part in the ICC World Twenty20 2009. Therefore, the Zimbabwe delegation has decided to recommend to its board that the team should withdraw from that event.

“The delegation has undertaken to report back on the decision of its board to the ICC within one month.

“The delegation will report to its board that it will not suffer financially as a result of its non-participation in the ICC World Twenty20 2009.

“The Zimbabwe delegation has agreed to take this decision in the greater interest of world cricket and the ICC. This recommendation should be viewed as a one-off and will not be taken as a precedent.

“Outgoing ICC President Ray Mali has recommended that a sub-committee be set up, chaired by Dr Julian Hunte (West Indies) and including another ICC Board member Arjuna Ranatunga (Sri Lanka) and an official from the ICC (to be confirmed). The role of this sub-committee will be to advise the ICC Board on all matters relating to Zimbabwe cricket including its return to full participation in the international game. The specific terms of reference for the sub-committee will be finalised in due course.”

The decision is something of a back-down by ZC, who before the meeting had been adamant that they had a place in the tournament by right and would play. ZC Chairman Peter Chingoka, speaking to CricInfo was putting a brave face on the decision:

"We have decided to pull out in the larger interests of the game. We have been informed that the British government may not grant visas to our players, and that situation may prevail during the Twenty20 World Cup. We don't want to be gatecrashers."

In reality, there really wasn't any other option for ZC. But with Zim's playing rights in other competitions unaffected, you have to wonder how long it'll be before the issue raises its head again.