English umpires Peter Willey and Neil Mallender reignited the Zimbabwe World Cup controversy today when they refused to officiate in the country, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced.
Willey was due to stand in two matches in Bulawayo - Zimbabwe's February 24th game against Australia and as third umpire for the February 28th match with The Netherlands.
Mallender, like Willey a former England Test player, was to be third umpire in the February 24th match.
Their decision comes on the back of the England team's controversial decision to forfeit their February 13th match in Harare for security reasons and Willey had already stated that he wanted to do the same.
"I advised the ICC some time ago of my concerns and indicated that if my employer, the ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board), did not send its team to Zimbabwe, I would be unlikely to travel to the country," Willey said.
News of Willey's decision was greeted with anger in Harare with Zimbabwe Cricket Union (ZCU) chief executive Vince Hogg livid at the latest row to hit his country.
"Just what is the matter with these people?" Hogg said. "I am at the hotel where all the teams stay and where the Indians are at the moment. Security here and at both our grounds is extremely tight. Willey has absolutely no need to worry on that account, nor anyone else".
ICC supremo Malcolm Speed confirmed that both men had earlier stated their doubts about travelling to Zimbabwe.
"Both umpires had separately advised the ICC that if the ECB did not send its team to Harare, they would be reluctant to fulfil their appointments in Bulawayo," said Speed.
"Since the cancellation of the England match, they have reconfirmed their decisions that they do not want to stand in Zimbabwe".