HARARE – Zimbabwe Cricket has been accused of insincerity by a representative of the players after the board failed to pay outstanding wages as promised on Monday, forcing a resumption of strike just a week after players called off a two-month boycott.
The players last week agreed to return to work after the cash-strapped Zimbabwe Cricket board assured them payment by February 10 courtesy of a $3 million loan secured from the International Cricket Council (ICC).
TURMOIL: A screen shot of the Daily News (11/02/14) back page.
After payment was not made, reportedly due to ICC’s delay to release the funds, players from all the country’s five franchise teams unanimously agreed to boycott a domestic Twenty20 competition scheduled to start Monday.
Eliah Zvimba, secretary-general of the Zimbabwe Professional Cricketers Association, said the situation had “reached a boiling point.”
“ZC has been insincere in their dealing with the players,” Zvimba told reporters at Harare Sports Club.
“At the moment we have reached a boiling point. Previously, I doubted if players knew their rights. Thanks to this union, they now have a voice. We need to deal with this issue once and for all. So as for now, I have advised the players to revert to personal training until they are paid in full.”
Zimbabwe hasn´t played international cricket since September, when a test series against Pakistan was undermined by threatened strikes over non-payment.
Zvimba revealed that the outstanding fees owed to centrally-contracted players alone since the tours to the country by India and Pakistan series was in fact $217 586, not $320 000 stated ZC boss Peter Chingoka when he appeared before Parliament last week.
Provincial players from the five teams and other staff are also owed sums of money by ZC.
Few days ago after calling off their two-month boycott, national team players received an allowance to allow them to attend training, but Zvimba said such a move was “divisive” against other lower-level domestic players who are also owed by ZC.
The player’s representative also lamented the continuous loss of players, others to premature retirement and others to other countries.
“Players are keen to play for their country, but have been treated unfairly by the board for years,” he said.
“The rate we have been losing players is alarming. Those players who have stayed are deeply concerned and depressed by the loss of their teammates. We need to critically look at the reasons behind the exodus. ZC in the past played the race card with regards to this exodus. But it’s not about race, it’s about welfare of the players, we have lost both black and white players.
“ZC has a mandate to safeguard players’ interests. We want to see continuity. We do not want to groom players for other countries. We need to close these loopholes.”