Sussex cricketer Bas Zuiderent says he will play in Zimbabwe during next month's World Cup.

But the Dutch batsman insisted today that he would "find it very hard" to shake the hand of Robert Mugabe if Zimbabwe's disgraced president turned up to watch the co-hosts play Holland in Harare on February 28.

England's players are under pressure from the Government to pull out of their game against Zimbabwe on February 13 in protest at Mugabe's despised regime.

However, the Dutch cricket authorities are prepared to accept the ICC's guarantees, issued after they visited Zimbabwe in December, that the country is safe for visiting sportsmen.

Zuiderent, who will be playing in his second World Cup, said: "As players we are not in a position to make too much of a fuss.

"We're just happy to be out there playing cricket, but if the situation arose I would find it very hard to shake Robert Mugabe by the hand if he turned up to our match.

"I don't want to get involved in politics, but deep down I know that he is responsible for a lot of cruelty in that country. What is happening in Zimbabwe is not right.

"Perhaps we could compromise if he turned up and we just got our captain to shake his hand, but hopefully it won't even come to that."

ECB officials met the Government for talks yesterday and were told there would be no compensation from the public purse if England pulled out of the match.