Zimbabwe cricketers released after 48 hours in custody

Two Zimbabwe players, Vusi Sibanda and Waddington Mwayenga, and the national team manager, Mohammed Meman, who were arrested on Saturday by the police on charges of violating foreign exchange regulations have been released.

The local Herald newspaper reported that "sources within Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) said they had been informed that the police were also interested in questioning at least six more players over their offshore foreign currency accounts and transactions." It did not specify who those sources were. The newspaper also said the arrests followed investigations by Zimbabwe's central bank into the cricket league's financial affairs.

Meman, speaking via telephone to AFP, said that the matter was close to being resolved."We are in the process of being released right now. I don't foresee any hicups and there are no restrictions on us," he said. "I believe the instruction to let us go came from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe. We know who caused this mischief, but he has failed except to give anxiety for our families."

Clive Field, the players' representative, said that the news had come out of the blue. "It came as a shock to all of us," he told Cricinfo. "We are not sure why those players were picked up. We are trying to get more information as we are concerned for the players."