Geldof bid to avert 'absurd' Zimbabwe match

Sir Bob Geldof is backing a bid to help the England team to pull out of their controversial World Cup game in Zimbabwe.

Geldof has teamed up with human rights organisation the Aegis Trust in a bid to raise £1m (€1.5m) to meet any financial penalties incurred by England should they withdraw from their game against Zimbabwe in Harare on February 13.

The Trust have established a Zimbabwe Fund and are asking members of the public to pledge £1 in a Comic Relief-style telethon.

"On a day in which perhaps thousands will die of state-sponsored famine, the English nation as represented by their cricket team will be guests of their perpetrator Robert Mugabe," Geldof said.