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ZC, players reach deal on contracts

Sport
ZIMBABWE Cricket (ZC) administrators and players yesterday settled a contractual dispute

ZIMBABWE Cricket (ZC) administrators and players yesterday settled a contractual dispute and cleared the way for the national side to focus on their preparations for the upcoming home series against Bangladesh.

REPORT BY DANIEL NHAKANISO

Only the centrally contracted players had turned up for training at Harare Sports Club again yesterday while the non-contracted players spent the better part of the day in a closed-door meeting with ZC officials.

Following the protracted negotiations between the two parties, the board resolved to give off-season contracts to 11 players in addition to the 10 centrally-contracted players which resulted in the selectors trimming the squad to 21 players.

ZC communications and media manager Lovemore Banda confirmed this in a statement.

“After a week in camp, the national selectors have trimmed to 21, the Zimbabwe squad for the forthcoming tour by Bangladesh. Of the players above who are not on central contracts, Tendai Chatara, Michael Chinouya, Keegan Meth, Natsai M’shangwe, Tinotenda Mutombodzi, Timycen Maruma, Shingirai Masakadza and Richmond Mutumbami signed off-season contracts with ZC today (yesterday),” Banda said.

While the duration of the contracts offered to the non-centrally contracted players was not revealed, NewsDay Sport understands that the contracts are for a period of five months.

Only eight of the 11 players offered winter contracts agreed terms with ZC.

Pakistan-born Sikandar Raza and Sean Williams were yet to sign by yesterday, while Craig Ervine turned down the offer despite being named in the 21-man squad after opting to play overseas.

“Craig Ervine has not signed and will be going to play overseas. Sean Williams and Sikandar Raza Butt are still to sign,” Banda said in the statement.

While there was no official reason given for Ervine’s refusal to sign, sources felt he deserved a central contract based on merit after impressing in the disastrous Caribbean tour.

Notable players to miss out on contracts include Charles Coventry, Edward Rainsford, Tawanda Mupariwa, Stuart Matsikenyeri and Chamu Chibhabha.

Opening batsman Tino Mawoyo and seam bowler Chris Mpofu already have central contracts, but are doubtful for the upcoming tour.

The contractual dispute started last Friday after non-centrally contracted players refused to train until ZC agreed a contractual agreement guaranteeing them a winter salary after their franchise contracts expired on March 31.

The boycott continued on Sunday, forcing coach Stephen Mangongo to cancel a three-day warm-up match scheduled for Harare Sports Club after only 10 centrally-contracted players turned up at the match venue.

However, yesterday Mangongo was a relieved man after the dispute that had threatened to ruin his debut as the team’s head coach was amicably resolved.

“Obviously I’m happy that we can now get back to business and concentrate on getting our preparations back on course. We need to make sure we make up for the time we lost and I’m hoping that the players will now be fully focused on the task at hand because now they don’t have an excuse not to deliver.”

Zimbabwe’s 21-man squad: Vusi Sibanda, Timycen Maruma, Hamilton Masakadza, Brendan Taylor, Sean Williams, Malcolm Waller, Sikandar Raza, Kyle Jarvis, Tendai Chatara, Shingi Masakadza, Keegan Meth, Brian Vitori, Michael Chinouya, Elton Chigumbura, Prosper Utseya, Graeme Cremer, Ray Price, Natsai Mushangwe, Tino Mutombodzi, Richmond Mutumbami and Craig Ervine.