Confusion as hearing ends early

The first day of the hearing into allegations of racism by the Zimbabwe Cricket Union at the Crowne Plaza hotel in downtown Harare ended early after a ruling that three Zimbabwe Cricket Union (ZCU) officials could not be present during certain witnesses' testimonies.

The start of the hearing was delayed by more than two hours as Chris Venturas, speaking on behalf of the rebel players, asked Goolam Vahanvati, India's solicitor-general, and Steven Majiedt, a South African High Court judge, to remove three men - Ozias Bvute, the board's acting managing director, the chairman of selectors Max Ebrahim, and Tavengwa Mukuhlani, the Mashonaland Cricket Association chairman - while the players were testifying. Venturas argued that the presence of the trio would be too intimidating.

There were angry exchanges when Norman Arendse, the ZCU's lawyer, made a comment to the first witness while he was giving his testimony. At that time, the three ZCU officials were not present. Reuters reported that during an adjournment, and in full view of journalists, Venturas challenged another member of the ZCU's legal team about Arendse's comment.

"I'm going to take a walk to cool off," Venturas told reporters,adding that he could not comment on events. "Sorry, I have been gagged."

The panel decided that while they did not necessarily agree that the players were in danger, there was "no choice but to request the three persons not to be present in the room while the players' evidence is being recorded".

A statement explained: "We do so making it clear that this request is made only with a view to ensuring that the investigation proceeds further and does not in any way amount to our acceptance of the correctness of the allegations made and of the apprehensions expressed."

A bystander reported that the presence of several "heavies" in the area around the hearing added to the general feeling of unease, while another eyewitness told Wisden Cricinfo that "a clearly angry Bvute and some associates" were seen leaving the hotel shortly after the adjournment.

The hearing is due to resume early on Thursday, but there were suggestions that the ZCU was considering not accepting the ruling, which would throw the entire process into doubt.