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Zimbabwe crisis nearing end

Thursday, April 29 2004

The stand-off between Zimbabwe's 15 'rebel' players and the Zimbabwe Cricket Union (ZCU) seems to be nearing an end, as the board announced on Wednesay that the players have agreed to make themselves available for selection.

The stalemate that started between the two sides after Heath Streak was sacked as captain, didn't look to end, up until Saturday, when the ZCU made an offer of independent arbitration, to the players.

Despite first rejecting the offer, the players finally agreed to prominent businessman Much Musunda as the mediator.

Following the players' agreement to the offer, the ZCU made an official statement that the players will return to practice on April 30, and are now available for selection.

The statement said, "It has been agreed that the 15 cricketers will be at practice with effect from 30 April. The 15 cricketers will be communicating through their legal practitioners to the ZCU's legal practitioners a proposal for a dispute resolution procedure, which the ZCU will consider when received.

The players demanded the reinstatement of Heath Streak as captain, a new selection panel and for the ZCU to acknowledge transgressions the players say were committed by officials. It needs to be seen what compromises the ZCU makes, so that the issue can be resolved once and for all.

Posted by Sudeep