HAMPSHIRE are not ruling out the possibility that Shane Warne could be back in time for Sunday's National League clash with Gloucestershire.

An emergency board meeting is being held today by the ICC to decide whether two scheduled matches between Zimbabwe and Australia should be stripped of their Test status.

Their decision looks likely to rest on whether the Zimbabwe Cricket Union can resolve the impasse with their rebel players.

Aware of the situation, the ZCU have named Heath Streak, Andy Blignaut, Stuart Carlisle, Trevor Gripper and Ray Price in a squad of 18 - yet whether these players have any intention of playing looks questionable.

If Zimbabwe do lose their Test status then it appears that Australia will abandon the tour and leave immediately.

If Warne could then get an immediate flight to England he could potentially travel to Bristol for the one-day fixture.

But even if it is not possible for him to return in time for Sunday, he would be available for the C & G Trophy match also against Gloucestershire next week.

"We are waiting with anticipation like everyone else," said chairman Rod Bransgrove.

For now, Hampshire have added James Hamblin and Greg Lamb to their provisional squad for Sunday, along with the same XI which were beaten for the first time this season at Lancashire in the National League last week.

It potentially means a debut for the hugely talented Zimbabwean-born Lamb, who last week received his ECB status after spending more than five years in this country.

Lamb is known as an attractive stroke-player and he excelled for the trophy-winning second team last season, averaging in excess of 62.

"You just have to wait for your chance and then try and take it," he said.

"It is happy days to get my residency sorted out and it means I will have more chance to play for the first team."

Lamb, 23, previously played at the Zimbabwean Academy and has had stints in the second teams at Kent, Sussex, Essex, Surrey, Middlesex and Gloucestershire.

He is currently part of a youthful Hampshire side playing Cardiff University Centre of Excellence at the Rose Bowl.

Lamb top scored with 66 in the first innings for Hampshire as they made 287.

In reply yesterday, the Cardiff students made 302, with James Hibberd taking 5-72.

Hampshire finished the day 40 runs ahead with eight wickets remaining at 55-2, with Lamb again in the runs to finish on 32 not out at stumps.

The Hampshire Hawks squad for National League Division One match v Gloucestershire on Sunday: Kenway, Pothas, Watson, Clarke, Kendall, Mascarenhas, Prittipaul, Udal, Tremlett, Mullally, Taylor, Lamb, Hamblin.