Zimbabwe players back on strike

Zimbabwe's disgruntled players have announced that they will not travel to Bangladesh for the Afro-Asia A-team tournament in January unless their demands, including for the dismissal of Peter Chingoka and Ozias Bvute and payment of monies owed to them, are met. They also said that the Under-23 side will not travel to South Africa to play in domestic cup matches in February.

Last week, the players decided to resume training so that they would be prepared for the tournaments, but they changed their minds because of what a spokesman described as "the ongoing failure of ZC to address players concerns, both contractual and governance". The spokesman said that the organisers of the two events should urgently make alternative plans.

The decision was made at a meeting of all 37 nationally-contracted players on Wednesday. "We made a 100% decision not to go," said Blessing Mahwire, the ZPCA chairperson. "We will still play club and provincial cricket in Zimbabwe, but we are giving the Bangladeshis as much notice as possible so they can invite another country. We are aware of the impact we will make, but we have been forced into it."

The change of heart has come because of the remarkably high-handed way that Zimbabwe Cricket has dealt with the players in the last ten days. Despite the delicate nature of the situation, ZC shut its offices without notice a fortnight before Christmas and they are not expected to re-open until mid January. Players' fuel and car allowances were withheld, meaning that some had to run up to 12km to training sessions, and ZC officials refused to carry out any negotiations despite repeated requests for meetings by the Zimbabwe Professional Cricketers' Association.

"It's a financial issue," explained Clive Field, the ZPCA chief executive. "These guys are crying out for help, but if they can't see a viable career in cricket they'll have to earn a living doing something else. It's vital that we try to keep cricket going in Zimbabwe, but these are professional sportsmen who have to make a living.

"What happens next is up to the ZC," he added. "The players have made their position clear. They are sticking to the original list of concerns, including that Chingoka and Bvute must go."