ZCU officials fall out over selection

Who's who in the dispute

Stephen Mangongo, the convenor of selectors in Zimbabwe, and Ozias Bvute, one of the directors of the Zimbabwe Cricket Union, have allegedly come to blows over the selection of the national team.

Various news agencies have reported that both got into a heated argument in front of officials, security staff and guests at the Harare Sports Club after the final one-day match between Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka.

Bystanders say the row focused on a disagreement over the number of white players to be included in the national team for the first Test against Sri Lanka, which starts on Thursday. Mangongo reportedly wanted about eight whites in the squad, while Bvute thought only three or four should be included.

A witness to the incident told Wisden Cricinfo said that the row was "much more serious than the statement indicates", explaining that Bvute had Mangongo in a very strong arm-lock.

The two men closed ranks, denied that blows had been exchanged, but did not dismiss suggestions that the disagreement had become physical. In a joint statement, issued by the ZCU, they said: "There were pertinent issues on the agenda and both of us had divergent views on those issues. In the heat of the argument obviously voices would be raised but the point remains that we were each trying to push home our point.

"It is not true that punches were thrown and we can categorically say whatever physical confrontation there was did not amount to fisticuffs. The relationship between us remains cordial as it has always been."