The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) officially severed ties with Zimbabwe Cricket after the Government "concluded that it would not be right to allow the proposed tour [to England] in 2009 to take place".

Having receiving a letter from Andy Burnham, the Minister for Culture, Media and Sport, outlining the Government's position, the ECB released a statement that confirmed it was suspending bilateral arrangements with the African country, following the lead of South Africa this week.

"The ECB deplores the position in Zimbabwe and, like Cricket South Africa, finds this untenable," the statement read. "Therefore all bilateral arrangements are suspended with Zimbabwe Cricket with immediate effect.

"The Government has written to the ECB today and has made a clear instruction that Zimbabwe's bilateral tour scheduled under the ICC Future Tours Programme for 2009 should be cancelled.

"The ECB, who have been in constructive and extensive dialogue with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport for some time, welcome the Government's decision and share the Government's concerns about the deteriorating situation and lack of human rights in Zimbabwe."

Gordon Brown announced that the Government was taking steps to block Zimbabwe playing in England during Prime Minister's Questions and he urged other countries to support the action. "We want to ensure that Zimbabwe does not tour England next year," he said. "We will call for other countries to join us in banning Zimbabwe from the [ICC World] Twenty20 tournament."

England will now look for other opponents in place of Zimbabwe, who were due to tour before the 20-over tournament next summer. One option would be to ask Bangladesh to bring their planned 2010 series forward a year, while Sri Lanka and Pakistan would be other possible opponents.