Rebel cricketers form Red Lions

The rebel cricketers from Zimbabwe have formed a new team called the Red Lions and are due to play their first match in England on July 14. The team plans to raise money for two charitable trusts and will take on Lashings, the club side from Kent, at Wimbledon Cricket Club next Wednesday.

Five more one-dayers are scheduled at other grounds around the country before the end of this month. The team includes Heath Streak, the former Zimbabwe captain, Grant Flower and Stuart Carlisle. Reuters quoted Clive Field, the spokesman, as saying, "The Red Lions have been formed out of the desire to promote the great game of cricket by playing matches against worthy opposition in an atmosphere of fun and frivolity."

He continued, "We have chosen England as the destination for our inaugural tour because we have many friends and fans there gained from our past touring experiences. We hope to build on this success and carry this through into other countries."

The International Cricket Council had asked Zimbabwe to postpone the Test matches scheduled for the rest of this year. This came in the wake of the imbroglio surrounding the rebel players and the Zimbabwe Cricket Union. The 15 players made themselves unavailable for selection and were sacked, leaving Zimbabwe with a second string side for Test matches.