Former Zimbabwe players defy board and police

Heath Streak: They are only getting back their car after they have paid me what I am owed © Getty Images

Police want to interview two more former Zimbabwe players after Zimbabwe Cricket reported to them that certain individuals were still in possession of vehicles owned by the board.

Yesterday, Dion Ebrahim was interviewed by police investigating claims by ZC that he had failed to return a sponsored car. He was held for several hours before being released. He told reporters that he would not hand back the vehicle until money owed to him by the board had been paid. Ebrahim and others are owed around US$200,000.

A report in today's Herald claims that police also want to talk to Stuart Carlisle and Tatenda Taibu. Taibu is also refusing to hand back the car until he is paid for playing in the series against India and New Zealand last August and September.

"Carlisle and Ebrahim are saying they are owed their allowances and they cannot release the vehicles until they are paid," the paper quoted Harare provincial police spokesperson Loveless Rupere as saying. "We have not yet established the amount they are owed and we have also not yet interviewed Taibu and Carlisle but investigations are still in progress." Taibu, however, claimed that he had already spoken to the police.

He said they were investigating the case with a view to establish whether the case was a criminal or civil matter.

Clive Field, the former Zimbabwe Professional Cricketers' Association chief executive, told Cricinfo that ZC was "way out of order". He added: "It is naked nastiness ... totally uncalled for and disgraceful. Only three months ago we saw three players detained in prison cells, now here we are again."

Heath Streak is another who still has his ZC car. He is owed US$25,000 and it is understood that ZC offered to pay what he is owed at varying rates and Streak has refused that. He said: "Unless they get a court order, they cannot do anything. They are only getting back their car after they have paid me what I am owed. I have not been contacted by anyone concerning the car in my possession but I won't be surprised if that happens."