'The cancer is at the heart of the board'

One of the senior Zimbabwe 'rebel' players, who obviously needs to remain anonymous, spoke exclusively to Wisden Cricinfo in the last couple of days

What's just a game of cricket shouldn't be a matter of life or death

As far as you are aware, how did this crisis begin?
A number of us as players were not happy with the way things were going in Zimbabwe cricket and the way the ZCU board were running the game, especially the increasing politicisation, so Heath Streak put our principles to them and said he would consider retiring or resigning if they were not met. And the board sacked him. We decided to come out in support of him because we believe Heath is the right man to captain the side, there are people on the board who shouldn't be there, and the selection policies are wrong.

Where do things stand with you at the moment?
We are now in a 21-day period before further action will be taken, and we're not sure which way it will go. They [the board] are claiming breach of contract against us, but the players believe that various transgressions on their part constitute breach of contract by them. They tried to get us to sign a statement yesterday to say there was a mediator involved who would act as a player's representative and we would go back to practice as of yesterday. We went back to Vince Hogg and told him we did not believe this was true and we were not prepared to sign it. So we are waiting for our lawyer to return from South Africa on Tuesday and then we will see where we are.

They are running scared because the team got thrashed

How is morale generally among the 'rebel' players?
It's hard to tell because we haven't been together for about a week, but I think our spirits are still up. We still all want to play for Zimbabwe, but at the moment that is not tenable as we see it. We got together in the first place to try to make things better for everyone, but I don't think things have moved very far.

Do you have any expectation that the letter the board wanted you to sign yesterday show they want to work towards a genuine agreement or be prepared to compromise, or do you think they are trying it on?
No, I don't think they want to address the important issues. They might be willing to change a couple of things which aren't that important, but the cancer of Zimbabwe cricket is at the heart of the board, and they won't want to change that. If that doesn't change, the policies running Zimbabwe cricket aren't going to change either. We think it's a red herring, and they're running scared because the team got thrashed the other day. Three major sponsors I understand have threatened to pull out, and there is major pressure on the Zimbabwe Cricket Union - and on us as well. It might go to court, but the guys are adamant and feel so strongly that they are willing to stick together and see out the cause. Costs may run into millions, and most of the guys can't afford that. But it looks like it might go that way, unless there is some sort of arbitration that can resolve the whole issue.

Do you fear possible reprisals against yourselves or your families?
That's a worst-case scenario, but I think the guys are aware it might get to that. What's just a game of cricket shouldn't be a matter of life or death.

Is there any kind of feeling about whether, under the present circumstances, Australia and England should tour?
We haven't really thought too much about that side of things yet, but we know they are obliged to come and we can't change that.

They don't seem to care about us as players, and they seem determined to run Zimbabwe cricket their way at all costs

Are many of the players considering leaving Zimbabwe now?
I think some of us have something in the pipeline, playing for clubs overseas and that sort of thing. But that's just for the future, if the worst comes to the worst. We still want to play for Zimbabwe, but we do have to make contingency plans if that proves impossible.

We have heard of examples of supposedly impartial board officials acting in inappropriate manners.

I could fill a book if I started talking about that! We object to their principles and the way they treat us. To give just one example, in a meeting Ozias Bvute laughed at one of our most senior players and said, "You can go whenever you want to; you can go and play club cricket and take your mates with you if you want." This was his attitude to a player who had given many years of loyal service ... quite disgusting. They don't seem to care about us as players, and they seem determined to run Zimbabwe cricket their way at all costs.

We didn't do it because of race, we did it because we want to put things right in Zimbabwe cricket

Are there any other points you feel should be made by the players?
Yes, definitely. We are all cricketers here together, but it has been turned into a racial thing. We didn't do it because of race, we did it because we want to put things right in Zimbabwe cricket. We've been called white rebel cricketers, but we're just cricketers, and that's all we want to be. It's not a matter of being black or white, it's just about trying to do the right thing and get things right. The media here has turned it into white versus black. We would like Heath Streak as captain, not because he's white and Tatenda [Taibu] is black, but because we think Tatenda is too young. He's going to have a great future ahead of him, but we believe Heath is still the man to lead Zimbabwe for the next year or two. We just think it's a bit premature for Tatenda to take over the reins now.

Have you had any genuine feedback from any black players about how they feel about the situation?
Yes, we did. Three of them were going to side with us, but I think they got influenced by the powers that be and they turned around and reneged on their decision. Other than that, we haven't had any more contact with them.