SYDNEY (Reuters):

The Australian government says it would be surprised if Zimbabwe accepted an offer to play Australia at a neutral venue after the 'humiliation' of being boycotted.

The Australian government ordered the national team to cancel their scheduled three-match tour of Zimbabwe in September to protest against President Robert Mugabe's regime.

Cricket Australia chief executive, James Sutherland, said the world champions would be willing to play Zimbabwe at a neutral venue, but Foreign Minister Alexander Downer told reporters that was unlikely to happen.

"It seems to me highly unlikely that the Zimbabwe Cricket Union would want to play the game in another country," Downer told Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio yesterday.

"For them, I suspect and at least for the Zimbabwean government, it would be seen to be humiliating to acknowledge that they're not able to play against the top cricket team within their own country."

Taking initiative

Australia Prime Minister John Howard said the government had taken the initiative to ban the players from touring because it was unfair to leave the decision to sportsmen.

"I'm sorry it has come to this. It really does pain me as a cricket lover. But this is a terrible regime," Howard said.

"This is a weapon available to the government. It is a device, it is a method of sending a very strong signal of disapproval."

Australia's opening batsman Matthew Hayden said he had been thinking about a private boycott if the tour had gone ahead.

"I was seriously considering my position this time, as to whether I would go if the tour went ahead," Hayden told The Australian.

Vice-captain Adam Gilchrist said he was also relieved the government had made the decision but he would be willing to play Zimbabwe on neutral soil.