Rebels haven146;t helped solve impasse either

Serious underlying political machinations involving Zimbabwe8217;s two main political parties has more to do with the current impasse affec...

Serious underlying political machinations involving Zimbabwe8217;s two main political parties has more to do with the current impasse affecting the rebellion on their white Test players than other financial implications.

While Tim May, the former Australian off-spinner and now chief executive of the players8217; federation FICA, plans to involve all parties in a bid to settle the dispute threatening to disrupt the Test calendar and TV schedules, an investigation of the Zimbabwe issues reveals how the white players have been working against the Zimbabwe Cricket Union8217;s plans to develop the game and take it forward.

What it comes down to is that while there are those accusing the ICC of failing to take a political stand, the council had done so in Auckland when they came up with a formula whereby Test tours would not be subject to non-cricket influences. What the white players did in Zimbabwe was take their protest beyond the initial terms of their original dispute.

8216;8216;Players don8217;t want words,8217;8217; said May when he arrived in Dubai in a bid to talk to ICC leaders, including chief executive Malcolm Speed, in a bid to settle the impasse before Australia play the first of their two Tests. 8216;8216;What they want is action to preserve the game. The ICC8217;s strategic plan states that there is no place in the game for racism. The ICC is charged with upholding these values and we all go along with this principle,8217;8217; May said.

8216;8216;We all need to have a serious look at this situation and take the issue out of its present confrontational stage and into an arena where we can discuss the issues without outside interference,8217;8217; said May in an interview to a South African television channel.

8216;8216;There is a Test tour cycle over a ten-year period and this could be further disrupted, as it was with countries not wanting to play in Pakistan. It also surrounds the livelihood of the players as well affect their earnings. We all need to examine a way around this problem through positive consultation.8217;8217;

At the root of the problem is that after a second string Zimbabwe side was thrashed 5-0 in the limited overs series, Sri Lanka went on to win the first Test in Harare by a huge margin.

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On another issue, Sri Lanka8217;s top bowler Muttiah Muralitharan, who last Saturday became the leading Test bowler with 521 wickets, has suggested he might defy the ICC ban on him using the 8216;doosra8217; in the second Test that started Friday in Bulawayo. In a TV interview with South African commentator Mike Haysman, Murali expressed disappointment at being singled out and admitted he felt like 8216;8216;quitting and returning home early8217;8217;.