Talks held between rebels and board

Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) has been in discussions with the rebel players in a bid to end the seven-month dispute which has left Zimbabwean cricket in chaos.

A report in the Zimbabwe Independent claims that two board members - Ozias Bvute and Tavengwa Mkuhlani - approached Ray Gripper, one of the leading critics of ZC, at the end of October in a bid to kick-start talks between the two factions. A result was that meetings were held which put forward proposals aimed at reworking the board's constitution, drafting new contracts and holding fresh elections.

"Initially I was approached by Mkuhlani, who brought up the suggestion. I agreed with him and raised the matter with the players who also agreed," Gripper told the paper. "We later held meetings with Mkuhlani and Bvute and we came up with proposals."

The paper added that it had seen minutes of the meetings, which referred to the rebels being brought back into the fold. "The qualification criteria for selectors as put forward by the players is accepted in total and not only partly," the minutes stated. "The players who do agree to come back will be valued by [Zimbabwe's coach] Phil Simmons. The only criteria to be used in this assessment are cricket skills and value, nothing else. Maybe any rejections could be supported by a report from Phil as to how he arrived at his assessment.

"There is to be no interference by board members in selection or cricketing matters and their contribution should be largely restricted to the boardroom and committee meetings."

Bvute confirmed to the paper that there had been meetings. "Gripper made some suggestions to Mkuhlani. I met with Gripper, Mkuhlani and Pichanick and agreed that we had to take the suggestions to the board."

But Gripper warned that there was a long way to go, adding that the lack of any feedback or official response from ZC indicated that it might not be willing to agree to the proposals.