Zimbabwe in turmoil as 13 white players quit

Zimbabwe in turmoil as 13 white players quit

STREAK

• Three selectors dropped

• Streak is right

• Player revolt looms

• Streak axed as Zim skipper

By Agencies

ZIMBABWE cricket captain Heath Streak and 12 other white players rejected Zimbabwe Cricket Union concessions on Thursday and refused to play in the team's tour of Sri Lanka starting next week.

Zimbabwe's selectors were expected to announce a team later on Thursday for the first two one-day internationals against Sri Lanka - a squad likely to comprise inexperienced black players led by a 20-year-old captain, the youngest in world cricket history.

"The ZCU is still not tacking this affair in a proper manner," said Chris Venturas, the lawyer representing Streak and the other players.

A proposal by the ZCU to appoint a compromise team of selectors Wednesday had raised hope of a solution to the crisis that threatens to decimate the Zimbabwe side.

But Venturas said Mpumulelo Mbangwa, one of the selectors the ZCU said it had appointed, had not yet been contacted by the union.

"The whole thing is a mess," Venturas said. "The players are not going to make themselves available today, because they feel there is still work to be done. They are all feeling very frustrated."

Streak is also refusing to play under new captain Tatenda Taibu.

"Heath says Tatenda can become a very good captain, but he does not feel happy to play under him just yet," Venturas said.

The crisis arose when Streak demanded changes to the selection panel, arguing some members did not have top-level playing experience. His demands were rejected, and ZCU chairman Peter Chingoka announced a decision to remove Streak as captain "by accepting his resignation". Streak insists he did not resign.

The crisis deepened over the weekend with a report that ZCU director Ozias Bvute had fired senior contracted white players for failing to show up at a first class fixture in the central town of Kwekwe.

Four players didn't show and another, fast bowler Andy Blignaut, was inexplicably dropped by the selectors of his provincial team.

In a letter made public Wednesday, the players told the ZCU that they wanted discussion of the core issues to be conducted afresh in a calm atmosphere, by an independent mediator and at a neutral venue.

The 13 players who signed the letter are Streak, Stuart Carlisle, Grant Flower, Craig Wishart, Andy Blignaut, Raymond Price, Gary Brent, Sean Ervine, Travis Friend, Barney Rogers, Trevor Gripper, Richard Sims and Neil Ferreira. - Sapa-AP
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