Cricket: Zimbabwe team go on strike in protest

DURBAN - The Zimbabwe cricket team have gone on an indefinite strike in protest against the way the national governing body is running the game.

A statement from the Zimbabwe Professional Cricketers' Association (ZPCA) on Thursday said no player would be available for national duty.

"In the light of the persistent and continued failure by both the chairman and the managing director of Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) to address the legitimate concerns of their players, effective immediately no player will train or avail himself for national duty," the statement said.

The statement said the "continued tenure" of ZC chairman Peter Chingoka and managing director Ozias Bvute were among the issues the ZPCA wanted addressed.

Former captain Tatenda Taibu, who quit Zimbabwean cricket last month, has called for the removal of both men.

Earlier this month a crisis meeting of stakeholders resolved to ask the government to order an audit into ZC's affairs and to appoint an interim committee to run the organisation.

Chingoka and Bvute were arrested under the Exchange Control Act on Dec. 5. and held for two nights for questioning but were then released without charge.

The ZPCA also said the players in Zimbabwe's series against New Zealand and India in August and September had still to be paid.

"In the face of burgeoning costs and at a time when most employees in Zimbabwe are receiving their annual bonuses the players have been overlooked by ZC and are still waiting for match fees, more than two months late," the statement said.

Zimbabwe's next senior international engagement is in the West Indies in April and May where they are scheduled to play two tests and five one-day internationals.

But they are due to field teams in the Afro-Asian A-team tournament in Bangladesh in January and in South Africa's under-23 domestic competitions this season.

"Despite a number of recent attempts by the ZPCA and others to find a way forward with ZC regarding the various issues outstanding in the negotiations between ZPCA and ZC, there has been no progress," the statement said.

- REUTERS