adminRicky Zililo Sports Reporter
THE resumption of franchise cricket after the festive break hangs in the balance with players yet to report for training in protest over unpaid salaries. Matches are supposed to resume this Saturday with Mashonaland Eagles taking on Southern Rocks while Matabeleland Tuskers are scheduled to host Manicaland Mountaineers in the Pro-50 One Day games.
From January 20-23 the four franchises are expected to lock horns in the Logan Cup.
Only MidWest Rhinos will be on a bye according to the Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) calendar.
However, it was established yesterday that domestic cricketers, who had a gloomy Christmas holiday as they went for the break without getting their salaries for November and December, are yet to report back for training.
ZC has for a long time been faced with financial challenges. This led to a late take-off of the 2013/14 domestic season which only started at the beginning of the season.
The salary stand-off affected second round Logan Cup matches leading to the cancellation of the MidWest-Southern Rocks game in Kwekwe and the Manicaland Mountaineers versus Mashonaland Eagles tie in Mutare. Both matches were supposed to have been played on December 17-20.
Senior players like national team cricketer Brendan Taylor, Vusi Sibanda and Malcolm Waller are said to have downed their bats in protest over delayed salaries.
The ZC issued a statement saying it could not “provide guarantees of specific dates” for payment of players’ salaries.
Matabeleland Tuskers chief executive officer Stanley Staddon confirmed that they are yet to pay their players.
“We are still having challenges in terms of resources but believe you me, we want to pay our players,” Staddon said.
He could not be drawn into shedding light as to when they will pay their players.
Matabeleland Tuskers are the reigning Logan Cup champions but at the rate things are going at ZC, it is unlikely that the 2013/14 season will resume soon and the Bulawayo-based franchise can wait longer to defend the most coveted cricket competition in Zimbabwe.
Wayne James, Matabeleland Tuskers’ coach, said no one from his squad has reported for training.
“The players took a stand through their union that they will not train or play until they are paid. I understand the problem is affecting all the franchises and I don’t know when this stand off will be sorted out,” said James.
Last August, the Zimbabwe cricketers formed a union to participate in salary negotiations prior to the series against Pakistan. The board’s financial condition also resulted in Sri Lanka’s tour to the country in October being deferred.
According to ESPNcricinfo, ZC has asked the ICC for an additional loan of US$3 million but an insider said the ICC may only agree to that if ZC provides an audit of the funds they received from the Targeted Assistance and Performance Programme earlier this year.
The financial crisis faced by ZC has also led to cancellation of Afghanistan’s tour to Zimbabwe. The two would have played a handful of ODIs and Twenty20s but financial concerns in Zimbabwe have made the tour untenable.
With Afghanistan’s trip called off, Zimbabwe will not have adequate preparations for the World Twenty20 in March. They would have gone almost six months without any cricket, having last played Pakistan in September.
Zimbabwe captain Brendan Taylor tweeted on Friday evening that the team needs to get into action ahead of the World Twenty20 Championships.
Online Reporter