Bermuda's chances of qualifying for next year's Twenty20 World Cup in England are likely to get a big boost later today when the International Cricket Council votes on Zimbabwe's future in the game.

While the ICC board, which is currently meeting in Dubai, is unlikely to go as far as revoking the country's full-member status, a compromise is believed to have been reached that would see the African nation voluntarily suspend themselves from international games.

South Africa and England have been pressing to have Zimbabwe expelled after Robert Mugabe's return to power was marred by violence and voter intimidation.

With Zimbabwe thought to still have the support of India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, any bid to expel the country or downgrade them to an associate ICC member looks doomed to fail.

Instead, Zimbabwe are expected to suspend themselves from international play, ostensibly under the guise of declining cricketing form, but keep most or all of the $11 million annual funding from the ICC and retain their voting rights.

If they do so, Bermuda's trip to Ireland next month will take on a new importance, with three of the six countries taking part, Ireland, Scotland, Canada, Bermuda, the Netherlands and Kenya, then able to qualify for the main tournament in England next June.

As it stands, only the top two countries will go through, but with England having already banned Zimbabwe from touring next year, the likelihood is that they will also be prevented from playing in the World Cup.

If Zimbabwe are not suspended by the ICC and insists on participating but are banned by England in breach of the staging agreement, then the tournament is likely to be shifted to Canada, the designated backup venue.

That could leave England susceptible to missing out on hosting other international events, such as the 2019 World Cup or the 2018 football World Cup.

British Culture secretary Andy Burnham refused to commit his government to banning Zimbabwe from the World Cup.

"I would not want to be in a position of overruling a governing body in sport.

"I vigorously defend the independence of our sporting bodies and will always to that," he said yesterday.

"If we haven't held sway we would listen to the arguments of the other ICC members, but our position is completely clear: we think, in the current circumstances in Zimbabwe, it isn't right for any tour to take place."

And while Bermuda cricket coach Gus Logie is obviously pleased that his side's chances of making the main tournament have increased, he is determined that his side will approach it with the same determination they would have if there were only two places up for grabs.

"From a cricketing stand point, it seems as if it will be a great opportunity for the Associates countries," he said.

"But, at the end of the day we can't rest on this decision, we must get our own act together.

"The players will have to answer the question of will this decision help them or if they are going to the tournament to actually win it.

"We have just finished playing Canada in a few One Day International's and the mind frame and focus is quite good.

"We need to grasp this opportunity and take full advantage of it."

Before Ireland however there is the small matter of two Intercontinental Cup matches against Canada and Scotland. The first game starts in Toronto tomorrow.

Bermuda will have a training session this morning and the squad is in a positive frame of mind ahead of the game.

While the batsman pick themselves after their performances in the One Day Internationals, it is in the bowling department where Logie will face the toughest choices.

"We are looking forward to playing the match against Canada and continue to build on the good performances over the last week or so," said Logie.

"The results we have had recently have been good for the confidence of all the players.

"We have some young players out here who have not played this format before, but we will go out to play and put our best forward and continue our progress.

"We will run through a couple of bowling combinations in training to try and figure out our best attack.

"But it also depends on the state of the pitch on Friday."