The Zimbabwe Cricket Union (ZCU) has withdrawn its controversial decision to sack 12 white cricket players for alleged breach of contract and issued a fresh 21-day notice for the players to make themselves available to play.
In a statement released late on Friday, the ZCU said it has rescinded their decision to dismiss the players ”for the sake of the game of cricket”.
The players, whose first ultimatum to make themselves available for selection expired on May 7, have been ”issued with a further 21-day notice to rectify their breaches of their agreements by making themselves available at all times to practise and play representative cricket for Zimbabwe in any match for which they are selected in compliance with their agreements”.
The 21-day period is with immediate effect from May 14, the ZCU said.
The union warned that if the players fail to comply with the new notice, it will take ”such action as it deems fit in terms of its contract with the players”.
The dispute began on April 2 when former captain Heath Streak verbally objected to certain members of the national selection panel.
He was immediately fired by directors who publicly expressed their anger.
In response all the white players, with the exception of Mark Vermeulen, demanded his reinstatement together with changes to the selection panel. A five-week-old impasse developed.
Meanwhile, all-rounder Sean Ervine left the country this week for Australia where he reportedly hopes to pursue provincial cricket.
Touring Australian captain Ricky Ponting said that he had met Ervine in transit at Johannesburg airport and he indicated his wish to play in Australia.
”I had a chat with him for about 10 minutes and he said he has retired from Zimbabwean cricket and he’s moving out to Perth … and eventually he would like to play for Western Australia,” said Ponting.
Sri Lanka, meanwhile, will seek to make a big total at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on Saturday and open up an impregnable lead over Zimbabwe on the second day of the second Test.
They do not have a formidable task as Zimbabwe’s first-innings total of 228, while respectable for an inexperienced and youthful side, is hardly a challenge. — Sapa-AFP