'Death threat' cricketers continue talks

England's cricketers are expected to announce today whether they will boycott their opening World Cup match in Zimbabwe.

The team is not due to make its decision public until further talks with the England and Wales Cricket Board have taken place this morning.

It has been claimed they have already decided to withdraw from the fixture after receiving death threats and were due to make the decision public at a press conference this morning.

The 15-man squad spent most of yesterday locked in talks with England and Wales Cricket Board officials about whether they should compete against Zimbabwe on Thursday.

But there was no official confirmation from any of the players, their representatives - the Professional Cricketers Association - or ECB officials.

The ECB is continuing talks with the 15-man England squad. The move is being seen as a last bid to persuade Nasser Hussain's side not to boycott Thursday's clash with Zimbabwe.

Another statement is expected this afternoon.

Meanwhile, the BBC's cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew claims he's been told the players have decided to pull out of the game.

And the Sunday Telegraph reports the England players will refuse to play the game in Harare after receiving death threats from a group called "The Sons and Daughters of Zimbabwe".