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Rebels planning England tour

Saturday, May 29 2004

Zimbabwe's 15 rebel cricketers are considering to tour England and stage "social matches" so as to re-start their cricketing careers and earn some money to finance their huge legal bills.

The players have been sacked by the Zimbabwe Cricket Union (ZCU) after they refused to make themselves available for national selection, a strike against racially driven selection policies practised by the cricket board and the sacking of former captain Heath Streak.

The rebels were given the idea of a possible social tour by David Flob, who is the chairman of Lashings, a wealthy Kent-based village side.

Grant Flower, one of the senior players, told the Australian newpaper The Age, "There are quite a few logistics to sort out. But it is a possibility because the guys have got some good marketability in England at the moment."

Streak, the former captain and most likely candidate to lead the rebels on such a tour if and when undertaken, told Reuters, "There have been a few ideas to keep the guys in cricket. We thought of getting some games together for the guys, or just getting them playing some club cricket."

Justifying the decision of a possible tour, Streak added, "If there's no resolution to this whole thing then I've got to look at making the best of the years I've got left in cricket and capitalising so I can get myself into a stable financial position to support my family. I've lost a lot of income out of not playing."

There have also been reports that exiled cricketers Andy Flower and Henry Olonga, along with former players Murray Goodwin and Neil Johnson who have moved to Australia and South Africa repsectively, may accompany the rebels on such a tour.

Posted by Sudeep