Players' chief Richard Bevan believes the news that the US State Department have advised Americans to consider leaving Zimbabwe will give the International Cricket Council (ICC) little option, but to move England's controversial World Cup fixture from Harare next month.
Professional Cricketers' Association managing director Bevan is set to continue talks today with both the England and Wales Cricket Board and the ICC after the players formally expressed their concerns over safety at the fixture on February 13th.
Bevan told BBC Radio Four's Today programme: "It is another example of the escalation of the troubles over recent weeks, and questions quotes from the reports that Zimbabwe has the expertise, infrastructure and capability to deliver a safe and secure event. Well, I can't see that being the case.
"I will be speaking with [ICC chief executive] Malcolm Speed on a number of points, which hopefully will get to the right decision tomorrow from our point of view which is to move the fixture from Zimbabwe to South Africa.
"Obviously the position with New Zealand coming out saying they have great concern over their fixture in Kenya and some of the Australian comments coming out, will mean they really need to make a quick decision tomorrow - they don't want to put it off any further.
"What they [ICC] should be doing is move those three fixtures into South Africa... allow those countries which wish to play in Zimbabwe and Kenya, if they feel it is appropriate and not such a security risk ... and then let the World Cup move on.
"I am sure Malcolm Speed has been taking advice on duty of care, not only to players, umpires, administrators - there also is a great concern for everybody now.
"Foreign Office advice is very clear - if the demonstrations become mass demonstrations, then the danger to Zimbabwe people, the opposition supporters, the people at the game could be major on the basis that the army and police have a history of using brute force."
PA