ZIMBABWE was talked into pulling out of next year's International Cricket Council World Twenty20 in England to avert being stripped of its status as a Full Member of the International Cricket Council, in a move welcomed by Cricket South Africa and the British government.

The ICC discussed the Zimbabwe cricket team's future at a board meeting in Dubai after England and South Africa severed bilateral cricketing relations with Zimbabwe Cricket last week. The Zimbabwe issue had dragged on from Tuesday during the ICC executive board meeting and was carried over to an unscheduled fourth day on Friday.

In a statement at the end of the meeting the ICC said: "The Zimbabwe delegation to the 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 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 recommended a sub-committee -- to be 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) -- be set up to advise the ICC executive board on all matters relating to Zimbabwean cricket, including its return to full participation in the international game.

Some countries, led by England and South Africa, had been pushing for Zimbabwe to be stripped of its Full Member status due to the political turmoil obtaining throughout the country but the Asian bloc, led by India, opposed the move.

The latest decision has been welcomed by Britain.

"I welcome the suspension of Zimbabwe from ICC tournaments for a year. This will allow the Twenty20 tournament in England to go ahead," British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said in a statement.

"It also sends a powerful message to Zimbabwe that the government must change or face further isolation."

Cricket South Africa president, Norman Arendse has also welcomed the ICC's resolution on Zimbabwe as a step in the right direction.

In a statement Andrese said: "The Zimbabwe issue is difficult and complex, and was discussed at length. At least, the ICC decision extricates all Full Member countries from the potential problem of the Twenty20 tournament to be played in England in 2009.

"CSA can now look forward with confidence to participating in it next year. Dr Julian Hunte of the West Indies has also been appointed to engage Zimbabwe Cricket, and to report back to the executive board at its next meeting in October. CSA's recently articulated position in relation to Zimbabwe Cricket will, however, remain as is, until the Zimbabwe situation is resolved to the satisfaction of all parties concerned."

Zimbabwe Cricket president Peter Chingoka told reporters soon after the meeting in Dubai that Zimbabwe had agreed not to participate in the Twenty20 world championships in the wider interest of cricket.

"But we will continue to be a Full Member of the ICC and welcome any team that wants to play against us," Chingoka said. "We voluntarily agreed to back out of the Twenty20 World because we were told we wouldn't get visas to England. We don't want to gate-crash where we are not welcome."