Heath Streak 1, Peter Chingoka 0

Heath Streak 1, Peter Chingoka 0

STREAK

• Streak is right

• Player revolt looms

• Streak axed as Zim skipper

By Agencies

THE Zimbabwe Cricket Union (ZCU) has dropped three selectors and named two new ones in a sign that the impasse with 13 senior players who have threatened to resign may be moving towards resolution.

Mpumelelo Mbangwa, a former test medium pace bowler who has since embarked on a career as a television commentator, and Richie Kaschula, an ex-spin bowler who played first-class cricket in the 1970s, have been brought on to the panel.

The new four-man committee will be convened by Steven Mangongo and also includes Max Ebrahim, Mbangwa and Kaschula. Ali Shah, Jon Brent and coach Geoff Marsh have lost their places on the panel.

The committee's first duty will be to pick a squad to play Sri Lanka in the opening one-day international in Bulawayo on Tuesday. The squad is due to be named later on Thursday.

The 13 players have threatened to quit over what they describe as an "unprofessional manner of selection" that allows "interference of a non-sporting agenda." They have also alleged "racial and ethnic discrimination in the selection of the national team."

Heath Streak's tenure as captain ended when he raised similar concerns with the ZCU.

Streak wanted the panel reduced from five to four selectors, for them not to have conflicting interests and to possess at least first-class playing or coaching experience.

Negotiations between the players and the ZCU are continuing and the squad to play Sri Lanka may provide an important indication of how far the parties are from settling their differences.
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