Sports / Cricket
Zimbabwe cricket team threatens to boycott ODI against Pakistan
30 Aug 2013 at 12:31hrs | Views
ZIMBABWE national cricket team players have threatened to boycott their One-Day International series decider against Pakistan over unpaid salaries and allowances after refusing to practice on Friday morning.
The players engaged Zimbabwe Cricket managing director Wilfred Mukondiwa whom they informed they would not play in tomorrow's third ODI if they are not paid by end of day Friday.
The players were promised they would get their outstanding salaries and winning bonuses from the Bangladesh tour by August 28, but by Friday morning the promises had not been met.
The players', comprised of senior players Hamilton Masakadza, captain Brendan Taylor, Prosper Utseya, Elton Chigumbura and Vusi Sibanda, engaged the ZC in a letter informing them they had stopped preparations until they get paid.
One player who spoke on condition of anonymity told IndependentSport that the morning training session had been called off and the match was in danger of being called off.
"ZC came up with these dates (for payment) and not us, but today is the 30th and still nothing has been done," said the player.
"The managing director (Mukondiwa) was told in the morning that there would be no training or match tomorrow if we are not paid. We have also written a letter and we are awaiting a response."
Each player is owed around $3 000 as winning bonuses for the Bangladesh series over and above their salaries which are a month in areas.
It has also emerged that Zimbabwe's home series against Sri Lanka scheduled for October could be postponed at the request of ZC.
Saturday's match against Pakistan is important for the hosts who have a rare opportunity to win an ODI series against a Test nation other than Bangladesh.
Zimbabwe won the first match by seven wickets on Tuesday but lost the second by 90 runs on Thursday.
The players engaged Zimbabwe Cricket managing director Wilfred Mukondiwa whom they informed they would not play in tomorrow's third ODI if they are not paid by end of day Friday.
The players were promised they would get their outstanding salaries and winning bonuses from the Bangladesh tour by August 28, but by Friday morning the promises had not been met.
The players', comprised of senior players Hamilton Masakadza, captain Brendan Taylor, Prosper Utseya, Elton Chigumbura and Vusi Sibanda, engaged the ZC in a letter informing them they had stopped preparations until they get paid.
One player who spoke on condition of anonymity told IndependentSport that the morning training session had been called off and the match was in danger of being called off.
"ZC came up with these dates (for payment) and not us, but today is the 30th and still nothing has been done," said the player.
"The managing director (Mukondiwa) was told in the morning that there would be no training or match tomorrow if we are not paid. We have also written a letter and we are awaiting a response."
Each player is owed around $3 000 as winning bonuses for the Bangladesh series over and above their salaries which are a month in areas.
It has also emerged that Zimbabwe's home series against Sri Lanka scheduled for October could be postponed at the request of ZC.
Saturday's match against Pakistan is important for the hosts who have a rare opportunity to win an ODI series against a Test nation other than Bangladesh.
Zimbabwe won the first match by seven wickets on Tuesday but lost the second by 90 runs on Thursday.
Source - the standard
