'Either the ICC or the government has to step in'

The frustration felt by Clive Field, the Zimbabwe Professional Cricketers' Association chief executive, was all too evident. Concessions made by his players to try to end the strike threatening the future of the professional game inside the country had been stonewalled, and more threats had been made against them.

The revelation that Zimbabwe Cricket were so uninterested in resolving the dispute that they had shut their offices on December 16 - with no advance notice - appeared to be the final straw. Cricinfo only found out that the offices were closed when media requests went unanswered. While players trained and were denied fuel allowances and access to vehicles, board officials had given themselves and ZC's bloated administration a month break and simply walked away.

"It was sad but probably inevitable given ZC's increasing reluctance to negotiate," he explained. "Then there was the highhanded way in which they closed up shop early and without adequate notice of their annual shutdown, and at a time when there were pressing issues which needed to be resolved with their players."

There have been reports that some players had been threatened that if they rocked the boat then they would be reported to the authorities for alleged foreign currency violations. They have also not been paid, with some still owed money from the India and New Zealand series in August and September.

"These guys are crying out for help," Field added. "But if they don't see cricket as a viable career then they'll have to try to earn a living doing something else. It's vital that we try to keep cricket going in Zimbabwe, but these are professional sportsmen who have to make a living. What happens next is up to ZC. The players have made their position clear now. They are sticking to the original list of concerns, including that [Peter] Chingoka and [Ozias] Bvute must go."

Those two have been almost silent, although last week Chingoka did give an interview to a friendly newspaper in which he claimed that the stand-off between board and players was being overplayed. That assessment was dismissed by one players' source as "utter rubbish".

Field also openly called on the ICC to get involved. "We have reached the stage of an ultimatum. Either the ICC or the Zimbabwe government has to step in."

The ICC has steadfastly refused to intervene in what it continues to maintain is a domestic matter, although FICA, the international players' association, has joined those calling for action. But with it being Christmas, many key figures are away and the ZC offices are shut, so it is hard to see how any progress can be made before the New Year.