Zimbabwe players told to buy sponsored cars

Zimbabwe cricket's bitter relationship with its players may be compounded if, as reported, West Indies A players' refuse to tour the country, and further disturbing news comes with claims that players are once against being short-changed by the board.

Most are still waiting to be paid from the World Cup - the latest is that they have been told they will receive their money at the end of the month - and they have now been told they will have to compulsorily buy their contract cars, or lose them. The outstanding World Cup payments, player sources said, will form part of the payment for the cars.

Most, if not all, the Nissan Almera vehicles are not in the best of condition and require regular maintenance at ever increasing costs in a country where inflation is skyrocketing way above the official 4500%. Players spoken to said they are being asked to pay between US$12 000 and 15 000 for the cars, sums that will effectively wipe out their earnings from the World Cup.

A national team player based in Bulawayo said he would not afford to pay what he is being asked to. "I am not going to part way with such amount of money for that broken-down vehicle, it's not worth it. Besides I do not have the money," he said. "They have our money."

Players were also downcast over the situation regarding their playing schedule and Test return, and said they will decide on their future in the light of the news from the Caribbean. Training had already started in Harare in preparation for the West Indies A tour, although some players were conspicuously absence.