Zim senior cricket players stand by Streak

Zim senior cricket players stand by Streak

STREAK: Maintains there were no written demands, only a discussion with Hogg

• Streak quits as cricket skipper

• AmaZulu, Dynamos march on

• AmaZulu in financial crisis

• AmaZulu in first champions league win

By Agencies
10/04/04
THE possibility of a player boycott in support of deposed Zimbabwe national cricket captain Heath Streak grew when several senior cricketers failed to show up for a first class domestic fixture in the central town of Kwekwe.

They were due to play for Mashonaland against Midlands in a Logan Cup fixture. This is the premier domestic competition and always features test cricketers as Mashonaland is the biggest and the strongest province.

Zimbabwe Cricket Union chief executive Vincent Hogg confirmed "three or four" didn't turn up and his interpretation was that "this might mean a boycott."

He added: "Whatever it means, we shall still field a strong side against Sri Lanka when they begin their tour here next month."

Efforts to reach any member of the Mashonaland team or an official at Kwekwe proved fruitless. Several telephone messages were not returned.

The extend of "player-power" in support of Streak will become clearer on Tuesday when senior batsman Grant Flower and fast bowler Andy Blignaut are due to revert to the ZCU following a lengthy meeting with Hogg and chairman Peter Chingoka on Thursday and after consulting with colleagues about a possible joint protest.

They had sat by Streak and lawyer Chris Ventura for five and a half hours while efforts to solve the impasse over Streak's removal as captain proved impossible.

Streak is determined to get the captaincy back and said he may take legal action to achieve that. Meanwhile his replacement Tatenda Taibu might have to make his captaincy debut against Sri Lanka in Bulawayo next week with a make-shift side at his disposal.

Just before driving home to his farm and ranch earlier Friday, Streak made it clear that he did not at any time encourage the support base that has gathered around him. "It was not my intention to cause any possible exodus of players" he said.

At a news conference called by Peter Chingoka Friday, the ZCU chairman emphasised the directors' determination to stick to their original decision to accept what he called Streak's retirement from all forms of cricket in Zimbabwe.

Streak says he did not retire, nor resign. He was simply ejected from the job, he believes, because of objections he made over selection policy and selection panel personnel.

At the root of the stand-off is the fact that there was no letter from Streak complaining about selection policy and personnel, just a conversation with Hogg, which the chief executive reported to the board as "an ultimatum."

Chingoka referred to the ZCU directors' offer to Streak that he can continue as a player.

Streak said he is giving that his consideration. But if he takes up the offer, this will not detract from possible legal action over the captaincy, he emphasised.

Streak is due to take up a ten weeks contract with English county side Warwickshire in mid-June.
JOIN THE DEBATE ON THIS ARTICLE ON THE NEWZIMBABWE.COM FORUMS
ozzie@newzimbabwe.com