Unease grows among the rank and file

On the outside looking in: Heath Streak arrives to watch Sunday's one-dayer against England © Getty Images

Zimbabwe officials might be breathing a sigh of relief that England's tour passed without incident, but there are few signs that the internal conflict which had dogged the country all year is likely to ease off.

At the weekend, the opposition Independent newspaper carried a report that Takashinga, a leading club and one accused by critics of being highly politicised, was demanding that 10% of all money earned and bonuses won by its players must go to it for "development". According to the paper, the club confirmed this and said they considered it fair - which the players didn't.

Last month, Tatenda Taibu, Zimbabwe's captain, left Takashinga. At a press conference at the weekend he denied that his decision to sever links with a club he had been involved with since he was 10 had anything to do with this ongoing dispute. It is believed that Taibu and Stuart Matsikenyeri paid last season's levy out of their World Cup bonuses, but were unable to see any signs of where the money had been spent. When they pressed the point they were politely advised not to delve any further. Taibu left the club shortly afterwards. The Independent added that insiders had claimed one player was "threatened with death for challenging the alleged extortion."

Another player told the paper that they had been warned "that [Stephen] Mangongo [the club's chairman and a national selector] would "penalise" them when it comes to selection." Mangongo defended the levy, explaining that "Takashinga is a self-sustaining club like all others and we're glad we came up with an idea to fund the club."

In the London Sunday Times yesterday, Simon Wilde reported that there was also unrest inside the Mashonaland Cricket Association -- the strongest provincial organisation in the country - where officials are said to have raised questions over selection of national Under-16 and Under-19 squads. Wilde wrote that he had seen minutes which said action was needed as "a number of deserving kids were left out and some of them were not even called for trials". The minutes also flagged concerns at how appointments were being made within Zimbabwe cricket. "All keep seeing new faces every day at (ZC)," the minutes stated. "Other members wanted to know whether the people who are being employed had a cricketing background".

A further blow to Zimbabwe Cricket came with the news that Kish Gokal, general manager of its national academy, had stepped down. The academy's administrator, Anthea Reeler, resigned at the same time. The word on the street, which remains unconfirmed, is that Gokal had tired of political interference.

And Zimbabwe Cricket has one other worry. It is reported that a number of its current side are deeply unhappy with their pay, claiming that they earn as little as 25% of what they feel is a fair rate. It is said that they approached FICA, the international players' association, in a bid to escalate their grievances. One source close to Zimbabwe Cricket told Cricinfo that this was blamed for the team's "below-par performances against England".

The pro-government Daily Herald carried a report on Friday that Zimbabwe Cricket officials were considering penalising players for poor displays, adding that some of the squad had been seen in nightclubs. "We all appreciate the fact the players are still young but there are signs that they are no longer spending much of their time on their cricket," a senior ZC member told the Herald. "Instead they are busy seeking pleasure. The best way to handle the situation is to limit the players' access to pleasure by taking away their cars."