adminJeffrey Murimbechi Sports Correspondent
THE domestic Twenty20 cricket tournament suffered a false start yesterday following another industrial action as players refused to play in protest against Zimbabwe Cricket’s failure to honour their payment agreement. The tournament, which had been rescheduled to start yesterday, was called off indefinitely without a ball being bowled.
ZC said they were waiting for the financial support from the International Cricket Council and had been promised that funding will be provided this week.
“Last night, ZC managing director Wilfred Mukondiwa met the players’ representative Eliah Zvimba and advised him that the ICC is finalising the paperwork for the payment,” ZC spokesman, Lovemore Banda, said in a statement.
“Zvimba then took part in a teleconference with the ICC Chief Finance Officer and the ZC managing director.
“The ICC official assured the players’ representative that the world cricket governing body would, early this week, honour its promise to send the money.
“Regrettably, the players refused to take to the field this morning for the resumption of the domestic season, which was to start with a Twenty20 tournament that is also part of Zimbabwe’s preparations for the ICC World Twenty20 tournament, which will be in Bangladesh starting next month.
“The players said they will only play when they have been paid.”
Players had just returned to official cricket activities last week after ZC and the Zimbabwe Professional Cricket Association broke the month-long deadlock, which brought the domestic season to an untimely halt in December.
The bone of contention that made circumstances reach boiling point yesterday was none compliance of section 2.2 of the meeting adjourned on the January 31, which meant that ZC would have paid outstanding salaries and other remuneration by the time the Domestic Twenty20 started.
Section 2.2 of the agreement reads:
“On the issue of payments of outstanding salaries the Chairman advised that players, the technical staff and all admin staff will be paid their outstanding salaries and match fees including, January salaries, in full within the next 10 days.”
The ZPCA have taken a stance to continue with their strike and the players will continue training, on their own, but will not play in any tournament until they get paid as per their agreement.
“We are saying that players will keep practising to keep fit on their own but there is no formal thing,” said Zvimba.
“Contracted players were given something and we really appreciate that, it was for them to come for training for a week and the week has elapsed.
“How do we expect players to now come for practice? It was an operational allowance to cover minor expenses but it did not go well with us because we are saying that these are not the only players in the country, why isn’t the same being done for franchises players.”
ZC has already honoured their commitment in section 2.15 and 2.16 of the agreement in which they promised to pay out US$2 500 for the national training week.
The ZPCA released figures that show the 10 contacted players are owed a combined total of US$217 586.96 — it excludes figures for none-contracted players who are part of the five franchise teams.
Sources within ZC revealed yesterday that the organisation spent about US$3 900 in food, security and other expenses for games that never got underway.
Online Reporter