Players dispute Chingoka reassurances

Peter Chingoka: his claims dismissed as 'utter rubbish' © Getty Images

Despite assurances from Peter Chingoka, the Zimbabwe Cricket chairman, that the relationship between board and players is not as bad as the media has been making out, Cricinfo has found out that it is.

Last week, Chingoka told the Harare-based Herald newspaper: ""We do not see this as the battle for the players. After successfully negotiating for them, the players have their contracts now. Some have signed them while others are still to. Because they got the conditions they asked for, we expect them to sign too."

But a spokesman for the players said that despite numerous attempts to meet with ZC officials, that had not proved possible as the offices have been closed at short notice for Christmas, adding that Chingoka's assertion the contract issue was ended was "utter rubbish". While he accepted that the deal was almost closed a month ago, ZC then "moved the goalposts".

Three principal issues remain unresolved - the exchange-rate peg used to calculate basic remuneration; the unilateral decision by ZC to go back on an agreement to pay contractually-stipulated match fees in US dollars (as they always have been) and to instead now impose payment in local currency ; and the fact that ZC are failing to meet contractual obligations to provide fuel and, in some cases, also vehicles for players. Cricinfo has learned that one national player is having to jog 12km to and from training because ZC have not given him a vehicle or fuel allowance. At the same time, it is reported that ZC officials' cars are being kept on the road.

Furthermore, private statements by some ZC staff to players are to the effect that the players are now being deliberately punished for standing up to the ZC and are being victimised as a group, for they are seen by the administration as being the party responsible for involving the monetary authorities in investigating ZC.

While the players are training ahead of the forthcoming tours to Bangladesh and South Africa, that appears to be to ensure they are ready should the dispute with the board be resolved and also because they are being placed under pressure by the authorities not to miss international fixtures for fear it will place Zimbabwe's continued ICC membership in jeopardy . If it is not resolved, then they are likely to take a vote shortly before they are due to leave for Bangladesh in early January and will decide then if they are prepared to play. As things stand, few of them seem willing to go back on their statement that they would will not play for Zimbabwe while Chingoka and Ozias Bvute remain in charge.

The contract dispute should have been resolved by the end of August and the players only agreed to take part in matches against India on the written understanding that ZC would sort things out in September. However, not only has no solution been brokered, but many players have yet to be paid for either series against India or New Zealand in August and September.

The patience and courage of the players is also being tested by threats allegedly made against some of them that they face being reported to the authorities for foreign exchange offences if they do not toe the line. Last week, two players and the team manager were briefly held in custody and subsequently fined for contravening the country's forex rules. If that were not enough, there is a dispute as to who is the legitimate person to coach the side ahead of January's tours, with both Phil Simmons and Kevin Curren laying claim to the position.