Racism hearing set to get underway

The hearing to investigate allegations of racism levelled against the Zimbabwe Cricket Union by the group of rebel players will begin in Harare on Wedneday. If found guilty, the ZCU could face a range of penalties, including possible expulsion from the ICC.

The two-day hearing will be presided over by Goolam Vahanvati, India's solcitor-general, and Steven Majiedt, a South African High Court judge. The findings will be presented to the ICC's executive board for discussion at it's next full meeting in mid October.

The ZCU will deny all the charges, and is expected to counter-claim that there is a legacy of racism by whites in Zimbabwe and that previous regimes did nothing to encourage blacks.

The ZCU has appointed a South African senior counsel, Norman Arendse, while the rebels will be represented by Chris Venturas, an attorney from Harare who has acted as the players' representative through most of the six-month dispute.

While the hearing will hear from a number of witnesses, not all are prepared to give evidence in public. One told Wisden Cricinfo that he would only submit written testimony as he feared for his personal safety were he to be seen speaking out.