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Pakistan in Zimbabwe 2013
Final ODI doubtful as Zimbabwe protest unpaid fees
Firdose Moonda
August 30, 2013
The deciding ODI between Zimbabwe and Pakistan is at risk of not happening because of a player strike over unpaid salaries. Zimbabwe's newly-formed players' union has decided the team will not take the field against Pakistan on Saturday unless the monies owed to them are handed over, as promised, today.
ESPNcricnfo has learned Zimbabwe's players were given a guarantee they would be paid on Thursday, August 28, and the money would reflect in their accounts on Friday. They arrived for training on Friday morning and, on realising none of them had received any money, aborted their training session.
A source close to the team confirmed some of them stayed on for a voluntary net but the players as a whole have banded together. "They want to get their point across and they want to make sure they get paid," the insider said. "If the money doesn't arrive today, then the chances are strong the game will not happen tomorrow."
The recent development comes just a day after some players told ESPNcricinfo the union and its members were satisfied with the arrangement they had reached with Zimbabwe Cricket at the beginning of the Pakistan series. Zimbabwe's cricketers refused to train the week before the series began because they had not been paid their July salaries. Instead, they formed a breakthrough players' union - the first of its kind for at least a decade - and demanded match fees, salaries and a percentage of ICC event reimbursements.
An eventual settlement with ZC was reached a week before the first T20. The Zimbabwe Independent reported the players had asked for US$5,000 per Test, US$3,000 per ODI and US$1,500 per T20 but those figures were too steep for ZC. It has since been ascertained that lesser amounts were agreed on.
A player, speaking on condition of anonymity, said yesterday he was "confident" of ZC keeping to their word and making payment. "We are satisfied with the arrangement we've reached and we believe we will be paid," he said. Less than 24 hours later, Zimbabwean players felt differently when they were greeted with empty bank accounts.
It is understood the players went to ZC's offices this afternoon to enquire about payment and sources remain hopeful some money will be handed over so the match can go ahead. However, they were also assured Zimbabwe's players were not going to compromise any longer and would only end their strike if they were paid. "It's about making things happen now and making sure they get some money," the source said.
While cash-flow issues have long dogged Zimbabwean cricket - they also threatened to strike in April this year ahead of the series against Bangladesh because of unsatisfactory daily allowances - lack of playing time has also been a concern for them and they seem to be willing to forego that in a quest to have financial obligations fulfilled. With the series level at 1-1, Zimbabwe have a rare chance to claim silverware but will not give themselves that opportunity unless they are paid.
There are also two Tests scheduled in the series, from next Tuesday. Zimbabwe's international programme for this year was due to conclude with a visit from Sri Lanka in October but the SLC have confirmed ZC asked for a postponement because of "unforseen circumstances". Zimbabwe's domestic season was due to progress as usual but the franchises have not been made aware of the exact amount of funding they will receive. As such, many of them have been unable to confirm contracts for coaches and players.
Firdose Moonda is ESPNcricinfo's South Africa correspondent
Feeds: Firdose Moonda © ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
http://www.espncricinfo.com/zimbabwe-v-pakistan-2013/content/current/story/667145.html
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I completely understand why the Zimbabwean players are striking, it's been two months since some of them were paid.
But honestly isn't the time coming where something drastic has to be done by the ICC? The player exodus has continued - Kyle Jarvis announced this week he was done with Zimbabwe and would be off to England - and whilst they jag the odd win like the one the other day against Pakistan they really are a basket case of a team.
Can anyone imagine this sort of unprofessional state or perpetual decline from Ireland if it were to recieve full status? As it stands a full strenth Ireland (including the likes of Morgan and Rankin) would wipe the floor with a full stregth Zimbabwe.
Final ODI doubtful as Zimbabwe protest unpaid fees
Firdose Moonda
August 30, 2013
The deciding ODI between Zimbabwe and Pakistan is at risk of not happening because of a player strike over unpaid salaries. Zimbabwe's newly-formed players' union has decided the team will not take the field against Pakistan on Saturday unless the monies owed to them are handed over, as promised, today.
ESPNcricnfo has learned Zimbabwe's players were given a guarantee they would be paid on Thursday, August 28, and the money would reflect in their accounts on Friday. They arrived for training on Friday morning and, on realising none of them had received any money, aborted their training session.
A source close to the team confirmed some of them stayed on for a voluntary net but the players as a whole have banded together. "They want to get their point across and they want to make sure they get paid," the insider said. "If the money doesn't arrive today, then the chances are strong the game will not happen tomorrow."
The recent development comes just a day after some players told ESPNcricinfo the union and its members were satisfied with the arrangement they had reached with Zimbabwe Cricket at the beginning of the Pakistan series. Zimbabwe's cricketers refused to train the week before the series began because they had not been paid their July salaries. Instead, they formed a breakthrough players' union - the first of its kind for at least a decade - and demanded match fees, salaries and a percentage of ICC event reimbursements.
An eventual settlement with ZC was reached a week before the first T20. The Zimbabwe Independent reported the players had asked for US$5,000 per Test, US$3,000 per ODI and US$1,500 per T20 but those figures were too steep for ZC. It has since been ascertained that lesser amounts were agreed on.
A player, speaking on condition of anonymity, said yesterday he was "confident" of ZC keeping to their word and making payment. "We are satisfied with the arrangement we've reached and we believe we will be paid," he said. Less than 24 hours later, Zimbabwean players felt differently when they were greeted with empty bank accounts.
It is understood the players went to ZC's offices this afternoon to enquire about payment and sources remain hopeful some money will be handed over so the match can go ahead. However, they were also assured Zimbabwe's players were not going to compromise any longer and would only end their strike if they were paid. "It's about making things happen now and making sure they get some money," the source said.
While cash-flow issues have long dogged Zimbabwean cricket - they also threatened to strike in April this year ahead of the series against Bangladesh because of unsatisfactory daily allowances - lack of playing time has also been a concern for them and they seem to be willing to forego that in a quest to have financial obligations fulfilled. With the series level at 1-1, Zimbabwe have a rare chance to claim silverware but will not give themselves that opportunity unless they are paid.
There are also two Tests scheduled in the series, from next Tuesday. Zimbabwe's international programme for this year was due to conclude with a visit from Sri Lanka in October but the SLC have confirmed ZC asked for a postponement because of "unforseen circumstances". Zimbabwe's domestic season was due to progress as usual but the franchises have not been made aware of the exact amount of funding they will receive. As such, many of them have been unable to confirm contracts for coaches and players.
Firdose Moonda is ESPNcricinfo's South Africa correspondent
Feeds: Firdose Moonda © ESPN Sports Media Ltd.http://www.espncricinfo.com/zimbabwe-v-pakistan-2013/content/current/story/667145.html
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I completely understand why the Zimbabwean players are striking, it's been two months since some of them were paid.
But honestly isn't the time coming where something drastic has to be done by the ICC? The player exodus has continued - Kyle Jarvis announced this week he was done with Zimbabwe and would be off to England - and whilst they jag the odd win like the one the other day against Pakistan they really are a basket case of a team.
Can anyone imagine this sort of unprofessional state or perpetual decline from Ireland if it were to recieve full status? As it stands a full strenth Ireland (including the likes of Morgan and Rankin) would wipe the floor with a full stregth Zimbabwe.
