Zimbabwe board terminates rebels' contracts....

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Zimbabwe board terminates rebels’ contracts

Wisden Cricinfo staff

May 10, 2004

The Zimbabwe Cricket Union has announced that all 15 rebel cricketers who are in dispute with the board have had their contracts terminated.

The board met this morning and took the decision that, as the players had not returned to work by the Friday deadline it imposed, they were in breach of their contracts. In a press release, the ZCU said that it had informed the players’ lawyer of the decision.

The ZCU went on to add that, while the players’ contracts had been voided, any of them who made themselves available for selection would be considered “subject to their commitment, form and fitness”.

The statement concluded that the “ZCU firmly believes it has acted in accordance with best business practice whilst it has also always kept the door open for any willing and committed players to return to the fold.”

The news comes hours after the players agreed to return to training and make themselves available for selection as a gesture of goodwill. They also looked set to accept mediation with the board, but this latest development renders that unlikely.

© Wisden Cricinfo Ltd

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The comedy of errors continue.

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The worst part, IMO, was that I read on CricInfo yesterday that ICC as well has come down against the cricketers. That was perhaps the most stupid statements made by Mani.

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really quite sad.

in the somewhat recent World Series in Australia, I watched the Zimb team in action after a long time. And to my surprise they had some players of promise. They had more than one guy capable of bowling 140+ - Blignaut and Friend (I think). Blignaut and Friend can bat as well. Streak is acknowledged as a world class allrounder. they also have a very good spinner in Ray Price.

but I did notice that they mixed a lot of promise with some hopeless selections such as Hondo. this guy was opening the bowling and was barely medium pace and his line and length was quite sad as well. add to that his poor fielding and unknown batting ability and you wonder how he made the team. I guess it is illogical race-based selections like Hondo's that these 15 players are protesting. some black players completely looked out of their league even then. now, since more amatuers have been brought in, they must be utterly hopeless.

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Actualluy Hondo is much better compared to Stuart Matsikenyeri.This guy is opening batsman and is yet to score a 50 after playing 25 ODIs.

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Ervine was one of the really talented guys I meant to mention along with Blignaut in my last post. he can bowl in the 140s if I remember correctly and he can bat as well. good allround player. definitely one of the better players in the side.

how sad is this for Zimbabwe cricket.

**Ervine quits Test cricket **

Zimbabwe all-rounder Sean Ervine has retired from international cricket at the age of 21.

He is one of 15 players currently in dispute with the Zimbabwe Cricket Union but has decided to pursue options in Australia and England.

The ZCU has, meanwhile, given the rebals a new 21-day deadline to abandon their boycott and make themselves available for selection.

But they have rescinded the offer of mediation over the players’ grievances.

The move comes only days after the ZCU terminated the contracts of the group, which also includes former Test captains Heath Streak and Stuart Carlisle.

The rebels have threatened to sue the ZCU for breach of contract, claiming their livelihood has been “destroyed”.

**Ervine flew to Perth on Friday, having met the Australian Test squad at Harare airport when they arrived to begin their tour.

“It’s never a good sign when you see one of their players actually going in the opposite direction to what you are,” batsman Matthew Hayden was quoted as saying. **

Ervine is the boyfriend of Zimbabwe coach Geoff Marsh’s daughter Melissa, a basketball player for Perth Lynx.

“He gave me a [resignation] letter earlier this week. It’s very sad and he’s obviously a very talented young player,” ZCU chief executive Vince Hogg told BBC Sport.

Two other members of the group, Charles Coventry and Richard Sims, are currently in England playing club cricket.

The row began when Streak was replaced as captain after presenting a list of demands to the ZCU, including a change in the selection panel and acknowledgement of alleged malpractices.

Four rebels, including Streak and Ervine, agreed to play for Zimbabwe A against Sri Lanka in a three-day game at the beginning of the month.

They were subsequently named in the squad for the first Test but subsequently withdrew after the ZCU offered them mediation, rather than legally-binding arbitration.

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some more shughal:

**Marsh to quit Zimbabwe post **

Geoff Marsh will quit as Zimbabwe coach when his contract expires in September.

The former Australian star, who became coach in October 2001, said he had been asked to continue until the 2007 World Cup but had decided against it.

Marsh resigned four months ago but his decision was kept under wraps until it was revealed in a Zimbabwe newspaper.

He said: “I was asked to stay on until the World Cup but I declined. I have enjoyed my time with Zimbabwe but it is time to move on.”

Marsh has been forced to work with a depleted squad because of the crisis in which 15 players are in dispute with the Zimbabwe Cricket Union.

The ZCU has given the rebels a new 21-day deadline to abandon their boycott and make themselves available for selection.

But they have rescinded the offer of mediation over the players’ grievances and Zimbabwe have been forced to play a second-string team for the Test and one-day series against Sri Lanka.

They were comprehensively beaten in the one-day series and lost the first Test by an innings and 240 runs.

Marsh’s possible replacement could be former West Indies batsman Phil Simmons.

He has been assisting at the Zimbabwe Academy in Harare and is attending the second Test in Bulawayo.