Rebel players 'to be sacked' by ZCU

The 13 rebel Zimbabwe players are to have their contracts terminated by the Zimbabwe Cricket Union, according to a report in today's London Times. The ZCU is expected to release the news today that it is to sue the players for breach of contract.

According to the report, the group of 13, led by Heath Streak, the former captain, heard about the news "on the grapevine" yesterday. "The lawyers are dealing with it now," said one of the players. "I've been told the ZCU are taking legal action, and we'll have to decide if we counter-claim."

After the players put forward a six-page document outlining their grievances, including what they called "racial and unethical discrimination in the selection of the national team", the ZCU made some concessions, agreeing to change some of the selection panel. Out went Ali Shah, a former Test cricketer, John Brent, a former provincial player, and Geoff Marsh, the Australian coach. They were replaced by Mpumelelo Mbwanga, a former player, and Richie Kaschula, who played for Rhodesia. Mbwanga, however, declined to take up the post, citing "conflicts" as the reason (he is also a TV commentator).

However, the players are thought to be against the remaining two members of the panel, Max Ebrahim and the chairman Stephen Mangongo, who have little playing experience. It is thought that the players see these two as the main culprits in mixing politics with selection.

Streak today told the BBC that he hopes to play for Zimbabwe again, but Peter Chingoka, the ZCU chairman, stressed that if Streak did play again, it would not be as captain. "There is no business in the world that can possibly operate under threats from employees - and that is what they are."

The unnamed player added that some of the players picked to play in the first one-dayer against Sri Lanka didn't want to play in the matches, and supported their cause. "We're not having any more meetings," he said. "We have been in meetings for two weeks. We are sick of meetings. It's getting dirty. Everything's coming out. I have no idea what the consequences are going to be but we are not budging until they meet these fair demands of ours."

Another player also expressed his heartache at not being able to represent his country. "It's so sad that it has come to this," he lamented. "I was just remembering when I was 12 or 13, watching a Test match from the nets at HSC [Harare Sports Club] playing out our own Test and looking at the players on the field, wishing, hoping that one day I would have the honour of playing for my country."

He continued: "My Test cap sits at home now, whether I will have the pleasure of donning it once again is uncertain. Why can't I just play cricket and fulfil a life-long dream of one day walking off the field for the last time while the sun goes down at Sports Club, take my cap off and leave because it's my time? Then sit in the dressing-room and say farewell to all my friends who too have fought for the honour to wear and fight under the baggy green. What a nightmare this is for all of us."