ICC has responded to events in the Middle East by approving the use of independent venues to stage international cricket. The decision means that if a match or series cannot be played where it was originally scheduled it can be relocated to the away team's country or even a neutral venue. But it would still be regarded as a home series for the original host nation. "Cricket in some countries, most notably Pakistan, is in the front line of world events," said ICC president Malcolm Gray in Kuala Lumpur. "We need to adopt creative solutions to support those affected and to overcome these problems. In agreeing to use independent venues the board was totally supportive of countries affected by recent horrific events and unanimous that every effort should be made to assist them."

The international boards of countries who refuse to fulfil touring obligations could face a fine of at least $2 million, which would be paid to the country they failed to visit. For Test tours, that country would also receive two points in the ICC Test Championship -- the amount they would have got had they won the series -- while the offending country would be docked two points.

But countries will be exempt from those penalties if they cancel a fixture because of natural disasters, war, or if the safety of the touring party was proven to be at risk. ICC didn't explain whether England's tour of India falls into any of these categories.

"This decision reflects the priority that world cricket has to give to protecting its calendar of fixtures," said Gray. "We have to be tough in protecting the integrity of the future tours programme from wilful disruption, hence the introduction of these severe financial and points deduction penalties."

ICC reached several other major decisions at the meeting of their executive board. Most notably, it agreed in principle to the introduction of a one-day international world championship, although the exact structure of the table had yet to be finalised.

ICC also agreed to send a three-man delegation -- Zaheer Abbas, Andy Pycroft and Allan Border -- to Kenya in the near future to review the cricket-related aspects of Kenya's application for Test status.

Another decision was aimed at strengthening the power of match referees by agreeing to a three- or four-stage disciplinary system to combat the deteriorating standards of player behaviour. This was expected to come into effect from April 2002. And ICC announced that the total prize fund for the 2003 World Cup in South Africa would be $5 million, with the winners receiving about $2.2 million.

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