Rebels ask ICC to resolve dispute

The rebel Zimbabwean players have asked the ICC to deal with their continuing disagreement with the Zimbabwe Cricket Union, using their own disputes-resolution procedures.

Ehsan Mani, the ICC's president, explained that the ICC had advised both the ZCU and the players that this was a potential option open to them two weeks ago. "The ICC has previously advised both the ZCU and the players' representatives of the ICC's view and the external legal advice that we have obtained that this procedure may be applied in this case.

He went on: "At this time, the ZCU is not of the same view. It believes that a Disputes Resolution Committee does not have any jurisdiction over this dispute. However, the players have today advised the ICC that they wish to take this dispute to this forum. I understand that this is based on their own independent legal advice that the dispute falls within the jurisdiction of these ICC regulations. Should this matter go before a hearing under the ICC Disputes Resolution process, given the nature and complexity of this dispute, I would think that it would be several months before this process would be finalised."

The dispute-resolution process is a system that is independent of the ICC, or any party that is involved in a dispute. The chairman of the ICC's Code of Conduct Commission, Michael Beloff QC, in consultation with Malcolm Speed, the chief executive, will appoint a disputes-resolution committee of between three and five members who are suitably qualified to deal with the issues at hand.

Mr Beloff has a wide power to decide on the make-up of the committee, whose members can be drawn from within the ICC, its boards and committees, or any person outside them with relevant knowledge and expertise. Once selected, the committee will convene a hearing of the matter in dispute to make a decision on the issues.

The disputes-resolution procedures are regulations of the ICC, adopted in June 2002. Any decision by a disputes-resolution committee is final and binding on the parties involved.

There has only been one previous instance of the committee meeting, when there was a disagreement between Pakistan and New Zealand regarding touring commitments. That dispute was resolved by the parties concerned before it went to a full hearing.