DURBAN, South Africa (Reuters):

ZIMBABWE CRICKET (ZC) described the scrapping of Australia's three-match tour as 'unacceptable' yesterday.

The tour, which was scheduled for September, was effectively cancelled when the Australian government instructed the world champions not to travel to the African state and Zimbabwe rejected an offer of playing at a neutral venue.

"The situation is unacceptable and unfortunate," ZC media manager Lovemore Banda said in a statement.

"Equally (unacceptable and unfortunate) is the proposal that the tour be moved to a different venue because we are entitled to our home tours and, in our view, there is no reason why this tour should not be held here as scheduled under the International Cricket Council Future Tours Programme," Banda added.

Zimbabwe Information Minister Sikhanyiso Ndlovu said on Monday the move to cancel the tour and the Australian government's announcement that it was increasing funding for civic groups in the southern African country were part of efforts to ostracise and unseat President Robert Mugabe.

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

Mugabe has been accused of human rights abuses, and the country has endured several years of economic and social strife.