Five of Zimbabwe’s senior players rejected their selection on Thursday for the Test squad scheduled to play Australia, putting the series in doubt.
Former captain Heath Streak, whose April 2 dismissal triggered a seven-week standoff between the Zimbabwe Cricket Union and 15 of its top players, was among the dissidents named in a bulky 18-man squad. The others are Stuart Carlisle, Ray Price, Trevor Gripper and Andy Blignaut.
The International Cricket Council was deciding via teleconference on Friday whether to afford the two matches starting on Saturday Test status after concerns that pitting a below strength team against the top-ranked Australians could ruin the integrity of Test cricket.
With 15 players on strike, a second-string Zimbabwe lineup was demoralised in a 2-0 home series loss to Sri Lanka earlier this month.
Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland has said it is unlikely Australia will remain in Zimbabwe if the tests aren’t sanctioned.
Streak was dismissed after he demanded changes to the national selection panel, including replacing inexperienced black members.
Fourteen fellow players — all of them white — went on strike to demand his reinstatement.
The union terminated their contracts last week, but later invited them back on condition they turn up for practice and make themselves available for national selection.
Speaking through their lawyer, Chris Venturas, the five players said they were still waiting for written assurances that the ZCU was dropping all legal action against them for alleged breach of contract.
The players also didn’t want to face the Australians without prior match practice.
”We are simply not ready, nor fit enough,” one of them said on condition of anonymity.
But they reiterated their offer to play in three one-day internationals against Australia.
Venturas said the players had done everything possible to end the impasse. ”It has been a highly stressful seven weeks for them,” he said. ”But they remain united.”
Zimbabwe Cricket Union chief executive Vince Hogg said the two sides would meet late on Thursday and release a statement shortly before the ICC conference Friday. He declined to provide details. – Sapa-AP