'Promises will not be believed' - Streak

Heath Streak: 'There is not going to be an immediate solution here. It may take some time' © Getty Images Enlarge

Despite an optimistic statement issued by the Zimbabwe Cricket Union (ZCU) yesterday, the 15 rebel players are yet to decide the course of action. And it now appears that the players themselves are divided about the next steps to take.

In the statement, the ZCU assured independent mediation provided the players made themselves available immediately for selection. It added that Heath Streak had been informed of the proposal and that a positive response from the players would be met by mediation. There was, it concluded, "every hope of a speedy and amicable resolution of the problem".

However, Streak, who is currently taking a break with his family, was skeptical about the resolution. "This is a proposal given to me, as an individual, and I still have to meet with the players in Harare and pass this on as I have understood it," he told The Daily Telegraph. "It is then up to them to think it over and make a decision.

"There is so much distrust of the ZCU that their promises will not be believed by any of the players."

Streak also said that the question of captaincy was not an issue and he would tell the players that he was prepared to play under Tatenda Taibu, if their grievances were sorted out. He also cautioned that some players might not want to play unless he captained the side, but added, " ... that is not the issue. The issue is the grievances. When those issues are sorted out, then the rest will fall into place."

Much Musunda, a prominent businessman, was chosen as the mediator by Streak and the ZCU. The other dissident players will have to decide whether or not to accept him. "They are looking for a neutral person," Streak said. "I will recommend Mr Musunda but it is up to them. There is not going to be an immediate solution here. It may take some time."

But other rebel players were not too impressed with what they heard. One told The Guardian: "It does irritate us that Heath keeps talking about Much Masunda and keeps talking about mediation, but in his communication to us we're not sure what's happening."

Another said: "If Streak goes on his own he is going to be out on a limb. He is saying things and making decisions which you could say are going against us." But he insisted that the players were united. "There's no division. None of us are going to go back unless things are sorted out. What if a few of us go back and they start wielding the axe because we dug up some dirt on people in positions of power?"