Police after Ebrahim and Taibu

Police arrested Dion Ebrahim, the former Zimbabwe vice-captain, this morning after he used a car sponsored by Zimbabwe Cricket despite not receiving a contract from the board. He was held in Harare at the Highlands Police Station, and his lawyer stated to journalists that his use of the car was not illegal, due to outstanding match fees owed to him by ZC.

Ebrahim stated that he will not return the car until he is paid in full for his services to the national side.

Former Zimbabwe captain, Tatenda Taibu was also contacted by the police regarding the same situation, whereby he refuses to return the car until he is paid. Among several other Zimbabwean players, Ebrahim and Taibu are owed in the region of $200,000 in backpay, as Zimbabwe Cricket is yet to come to agreeable terms with the players.

Initially it was reported that the players would be paid their due in US dollars, but ZC cricket has since offered a settlement in Zimbabwean dollars. The rate of exchange would mean that the players would receive a smaller fee than initially promised. The players’ strike has been resolved as of last week, when contracts were offered to the leading international prospects, but the issue of backpay continues to linger on.

A spokesperson for Zimbabwe cricket has stated that Ebrahim has received a portion of his pay, but refused the other cheque offered to him, as “it was not in the form he wanted”.