adminRicky Zililo Sports Reporter
SOME of the Matabeleland Tuskers Cricket Franchise players risk being labelled traitors by their colleagues for attending training sessions when they are supposed to be on strike.Cricketers agreed not to attend training sessions or play the sport until financially crippled Zimbabwe Cricket pays their outstanding salaries.
ZC owes players three months’ salaries and allowances while coaches who started their jobs earlier and some staffers are owed six months’ salaries.
Last week ZC’s financial crisis led to an indefinite suspension of domestic league action, which was supposed to have resumed on January 18.
The Chronicle Sport crew found Matabeleland Tuskers players busy practising at the nets at Queens Sports Club yesterday. Logan Cup champions’ coach Wayne James said they have been having voluntary training sessions just to keep the players fit.
“What you saw is the voluntary training session for the boys who can make it. I don’t have authority over who comes or doesn’t and I can’t blame the players who don’t attend these sessions.
“What we said is, we have facilities available and those that can manage under the circumstances to come are free so that they can keep fit. This is for guys who want to do throws or bat in the nets, otherwise this is not an official training programme,” James said.
James is one of the many ZC workers who have gone for six months without receiving their salaries and from his tone during the interview, one can tell that the Matabeleland Tuskers coach is frustrated.
Some of the players that attended Matabeleland Tuskers’ voluntary training session include all-rounder Keith Dabengwa, pace bowler Tawanda Mupariwa who was shortlisted for the March International Cricket Council World Twenty20 competition and Thabo Mboyi.
Cricketers’ representative Eliah Zvimba a practising umpire and former managing director of Zimbabwe Indoor Cricket who is also a renowned labour practitioner who will advise and guide the players on their labour-related issues, aided by his cricket background said players need to maintain their focus on preparing for the resumption of the season.
“The players are committed to their game. They are serious about their careers and will keep preparing for the resumption of the domestic season while I continue talks with ZC,” said Zvimba.
ZC has asked the ICC for an additional loan of $3 million to settle its debts but the world cricket body has agreed to release the money on condition that ZC first provides an audit of the funds they received from the Targeted Assistance and Performance Programme last year.
Last week ZC said they are making frantic efforts to pay the players.
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