ZIMBABWE’s preparations for the upcoming home series against Bangladesh have been thrown into jeopardy after the majority of the players boycotted training yesterday due to a contractual dispute with Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC).
DANIEL NHAKANISO
Coach Stephen Mangongo was forced to cancel a three-day warm-up match scheduled for Harare Sports Club yesterday after only 10 players out of the 29 players in the training squad turned up at the match venue.
It was the second time the preparations for the upcoming tour had been thrown into disarray after the players refused to train on Friday.
The situation could spiral out of control as most of the disgruntled players are considering playing club cricket in the United Kingdom instead of the upcoming series if the situation is not addressed.
Only centrally contracted players turned up for training as they are employed by ZC, while the rest stayed away as their contracts with their franchises elapsed on March 31 after the end of the domestic season.
The players who turned up for training yesterday include skipper Brendan Taylor, Hamilton Masakadza, Graeme Cremer, Vusi Sibanda, Kyle Jarvis, Brendan Taylor, Prosper Utseya, Elton Chigumbura, Brian Vitori and Sikandar Raza.
The trio of Chris Mpofu, Tino Mawoyo and Ray Price had been excused due to injuries.
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ZC general manager Wilfred Mukondiwa was unavailable for comment as his mobile phone went unanswered.
However, team manager Bond Nayoto confirmed the boycott in an interview with NewsDay Sport at Harare Sports Club yesterday.
“On Friday, the players indicated that they had some issues that they needed addressed. We called in the managing director (Wilfred Mukondiwa) and we had a meeting and he told them (players) the position of the organisation on the matter and we thought everything had been sorted out.
“We went on to advise them to have a rest on Saturday and come for the three-day warm-up game today (yesterday), but apparently when we got here the majority of the guys had not pitched up. We are now investigating the matter and hopefully the issue will be resolved as soon as possible because the game of cricket has to be the winner in the end,” Nayoto said.
Mangongo admitted that the situation had thrown their preparations into disarray.
“We were supposed to play a warm-up game today (yesterday), but we have had to cancel the match as we do not have enough players in camp. At the moment, I only have 10 players to work with and they have been working in the nets. I don’t know where the rest of the guys are. I hope the situation will be resolved soon because we cannot afford to lose more time ahead of such an important series,” Mangongo said.
Zimbabwe will host Bangladesh for two Tests, three one-day internationals and two Twenty20s in a month-long tour which starts on April 17 with the opening Test at Harare Sports Club.
Training Squad: Brendan Taylor, Tino Mawoyo, Vusi Sibanda, Hamilton Masakadza, Regis Chakabva, Malcolm Waller, Kyle Jarvis, Keegan Meth, Tendai Chatara, Chris Mpofu, Prosper Utseya, Sean Williams, Timycen Maruma, Raymond Price, Graeme Cremer, Craig Ervine, Richmond Mutumbami, Brian Chari, Stuart Matsikenyeri, Tawanda Mpariwa, Richard Muzhange, Tinotenda Mutombodzi, Natsai Mushangwe, Greg Lamb, Michael Chinouya, Ed Rainsford, Brian Vitori, Elton Chigumbura, Sikandar Raza
