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Zimbabwe players boycott training, form union - Pakistan tour in jeopardy

Austin 3:!6

By Austin 3:!6
in Cricket Talk

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Austin 3:!6 Grand Master

Austin 3:!6

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Pakistan tour of Zimbabwe may be cancelled as the Zimbabwe players boycott training on Payment issues.

Zimbabwe's players have taken the bold step of forming a players' union in a bid to present a united front in salary negotiations. They have also boycotted training ahead of the series against Pakistan, which begins next week, until their demands are met. Wilfred Mukondiwa, the MD of Zimbabwe Cricket, confirmed to ESPNcricinfo that a players' association was in the works for the last few months but he did not expect one to be formed this quickly. He said ZC have been in talks with the new body and expects a resolution over payment issues later today. Mukondiwa remained confident the series against Pakistan would take place "as planned." The players, who could not be reached for comment, are speaking through five senior members of the squad - Brendan Taylor, Hamilton Masakadza, Elton Chigumbura, Prosper Utseya and Vusi Sibanda - who have been in meetings with Mukondiwa and ZC "since Wednesday." They are believed to be asking for match fees in addition to the salaries they receive on central contracts. Mukondiwa confirmed a Zimbabwe Independent report which said players want US$5,000 per Test, $3,000 per ODI and US$1,500 per T20. He did not reveal whether ZC had agreed to pay those amounts, but said the "door was open for negotiation." ZC have made the players an offer which they had taken to the union. Mukondiwa expected they would accept the offer and said the only issue which was yet to be agreed on was that of World Cup fees. The Independent reported that the players want 10% of the proceeds ZC receives from next year's World T20. Mukondiwa also admitted that players have not been paid their July salaries due to a liquidity problem in ZC. While Mukondiwa said the five-ODI visit from India "brought in money", ZC "has commitments" and was not able to meet all of them. He said the players were given an assurance they would be paid soon. This is not the first time salaries have caused problems in Zimbabwe cricket. The players threatened a boycott before their April series against Bangladesh in protest over what they considered an unsatisfactory daily allowance for non-centrally contracted players. Then, Craig Ervine, who was not on a central contract, chose to play club cricket in the UK, instead of accepting a winter contract in Zimbabwe which was believed to be worth US$100 a week. Now, the players are demanding compensation they believe is in line with what their counterparts in other countries are earning. While they wait for a decision to be made, they have not trained as a squad. Some have busied themselves with independent programmes but most have been involved with the formation of the union. Zimbabwean players have never had a successfully operational players association despite many attempts at one. The 2004 white-player walkout was one such aborted attempt but the major difference between that issue and the current one is that this time, the battle is not around race, and players across the colour divide are united in their attempts to confront the board. Mukondiwa said ZC will release a statement as soon as a resolution is reached. Zimbabwe host Pakistan for two T20s, three ODIs and two Tests, starting next Friday. Firdose Moonda is ESPNcricinfo's South Africa correspondent
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Executioner Newbie

Executioner

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Yeah a real pity they had a strong side-system back in the day easily better than today's bangladesh who though i think definitely have a few good cricketers but just man for man zim was better.
meh, they were even better than current nz. They would have even given the current Aus team a run for the money
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Bleed-Blue Newbie

Bleed-Blue

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Umar Akmal to miss Zimbabwe ODIs, T20s Umar Akmal, the Pakistan batsman, will miss the limited-overs leg of the Zimbabwe tour. Akmal, who is in the West Indies playing in the Caribbean Premier League, spent a night at the hospital after fainting due to what is suspected to be a seizure. The PCB has asked Akmal to return to Pakistan so that he can be further examined by a neurologist. Wicketkeeper batsman Sarfraz Ahmed has been named his replacement for the ODIs and the T20s. The PCB received the confirmation from the West Indies about Akmal's medical condition and decided not to send him on the tour of Zimbabwe. "He has immediately been called back," the PCB said in a statement. "He will undergo complete medical examination to reassess the level of his fitness, meanwhile National Selection Committee has proposed the name of Sarfraz Ahmad as his replacement for Pakistan ODI and T20 squads for the upcoming tour of Zimbabwe."

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Vilander Mentor

Vilander

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meh' date=' they were even better than current nz. They would have even given the current Aus team a run for the money[/quote'] 90's zim had andy,grant,heath streak,cambell all of them were descent to good. todays nz have plenty of decent ones aus also has one world class player and good pace attack. bd is a poor team. outside sakib very poor.
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