Suspense ends: Tests scratched, players sacked

The ODIs will be played in Harare on May 25, 27 and 29.

The Australian management agreed to stay for the ODIs after meeting ZCU chairman Peter Chingoka and chief executive Vincent Hogg. The International Cricket Council (ICC) in London was notified and cancelled a planned tele-conference vote on whether to strip the matches of Test status.

Aussie cricket chiefs had said they would be unlikely to play the matches if they were demoted from Test status.

Zimbabwe cricket has been ripped apart by a strike by 15 senior players protesting against the ZCU’s selection policies, the make-up of the selection panel and the decision not to reinstate deposed captain Heath Streak.

ZCU’s face-saving move

The ZCU made the move when it became clear that the ICC’s emergency meeting, which had been scheduled for later today, was likely to strip the matches of Test status anyway. Seven of the 10 Test-playing countries needed to vote in favour of the proposal, and at least seven of those votes are in the bag, with New Zealand and South Africa the most likely to side with Zimbabwe.

No cars, mobiles for rebels

Although today’s emergency ICC teleconference has now been cancelled, the ZCU may only be delaying the inevitable. The remaining 14 disaffected players, whose objections to the ZCU’s policies sparked the current crisis, have been dashed by the news that the players have been sacked — again — and asked to hand in their cars and mobile phones.