"This is obviously not about safety and security, it is just political mumbo-jumbo," Information Minister Jonathan Moyo told the official Herald newspaper after a weekend of rising tensions over the tournament, due to start on February 9.

"If the British and the Australians want to keep cricket as a white and colonial sport, then they should do so alone because we are not interested in their rubbish," Moyo said.

Government officials in both Australia and Britain have openly questioned the wisdom of sending teams to play matches in Zimbabwe, where President Robert Mugabe's government has defiantly rejected criticism of its human rights record amid a mounting political and economic crisis.

On Monday, Australian Prime Minister John Howard said the International Cricket Council should reconsider holding World Cup matches in the southern African country.

"You have appalling human rights abuses occurring in that country," Howard told Channel Nine television. "You have a completely illegitimate, undemocratic, stolen government in Zimbabwe."

Mugabe has been criticised for his controversial policy of seizing white-owned commercial farms for redistribution to landless blacks -- a programme critics say has helped to push the country into its worst food crisis in decades.

Several Western countries have also rejected as fraudulent Mugabe's victory in March presidential elections, which the opposition says was preceded by a violent election campaign against its supporters.

Moyo said accused Britain and Australia of using the cricket tournament to extend a propaganda campaign against the government.

"It is a false, well-orchestrated and well timed move to give a new lease of life to British propaganda against Zimbabwe," Moyo was quoted as saying.

"We expect the likes of British allies like Australia to follow suit because they are finding it hard to accept that land reform in Zimbabwe is now water under the bridge," he added.

The International Cricket Council ruled earlier this month that it was safe to play World Cup matches in Zimbabwe, where acute food and fuel shortages have recently sharpened political tensions.

Six of the tournament's 54 matches are being hosted by Zimbabwe. England, Namibia, India, Australia, the Netherlands and Pakistan are all due to play a match each there. South Africa is hosting the World Cup.

The ICC has steadfastly defended its decision to stage the matches in Zimbabwe, and ICC officials have said that any team which refuses to play its scheduled matches there will forfeit its points.

Both the Australian and England cricket team captains have said they believe the decision whether or not to play should be left to their governments.