Cricket: Price of a conscience

New Zealand's cricketers could have faced financial penalties if they had made themselves unavailable to tour strife-torn Zimbabwe.

While New Zealand Cricket [NZC] has stated players' future selection would not be jeopardised by pulling out of the August tour, this did not preclude them taking a massive hit to the pocket.

Players are paid $6000 per test and $2500 per one-day international under the terms of the collective contract. Given that there will be two tests and an as yet unspecified number of one-dayers, that is at least a $20,000 tour in match fees.

But the most significant penalty could have been imposed on players by the national body.

Under the terms of the central contract awarded to 20 players each year, they must be available for all incoming and outgoing tours.

Given that, NZC could have been within their rights to withhold retainer payments for the amount of time unavailable. At the top end of the pay scale, this could also approach a $20,000 loss in payments.

NZC chief Martin Snedden was not available for comment with NZC putting a gag on talking about Zimbabwe until July 6. Players' Association manager Heath Mills refused comment on the potential of financial penalties.

"If a player suddenly had concerns we would take that to NZC. What the outcome would be, I would be silly to speculate," Mills said.

"The players are contracted and in those contracts they have agreed to be available for all incoming and outgoing tours in that time."

On the other side of the coin, if for some reason the two tours fell over, the players would undoubtedly seek redress for lost earnings. With four tests and potentially eight one-dayers off the calendar, that is up to $44,000 in lost earnings.

The selected players have been left as the meat in the sandwich over Zimbabwe, urged to make moral stands when those more equipped to intervene - starting at the ICC and moving down through the New Zealand Government and NZC - refuse to.

"A number of players have looked closely at the issue, others haven't," Mills said. "Ultimately none have asked to stay away. The biggest issue is the security. We wanted to see that situation monitored closely."

If you scratch the surface you'll find a simmering resentment in cricketing circles that they have been placed in a seemingly no-win situation. Many countries in the cricket world are wracked with fundamental problems - from Pakistan's military rule to the ongoing civil war in Sri Lanka and numerous points in between.

Away from cricket there is no suggestion New Zealand not send a team to Beijing for the 2008 Olympics.

The pressure is not just coming internally.

On Radio Rhema last week, Zimbabwe shadow justice spokesman David Coltart said the tour will inevitably be seen as support for what he called an "appalling regime".

- HERALD ON SUNDAY