HARARE, April 18: Up to three prominent black players could join the rebellion by 13 white players against the Zimbabwe Cricket Union (ZCU), one of the rebels said on Sunday.
The 13 rebels have refused to play in the home series against Sri Lanka, which starts with the first of five One-day Internationals in Bulawayo on Tuesday. The players want Heath Streak reinstated as captain, changes to the selection panel, and an acknowledgment by the ZCU of transgressions they say have been committed by board officials.
One of the rebels, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the black players supported their stand but were cautious about voicing their support publicly. "They understand the future is not very bright if all of us should leave," he said.
"They think we've done the right thing and they are keen to join us but they are coming from a different perspective." The players and the ZCU issued writs against each other on Friday, with each side claiming "breach of contract" against the other.
The parties have 21 days to remedy the alleged breaches, failing which the matter will go to court. The rebel players say that the selectors have allowed political and racial considerations to enter their choices. The ZCU said Heath and the other 12 were asking for too much influence in the way the team was picked.
The row means that a severely under-strength Zimbabwe side, already one of the weakest test-playing nations, will take on Sri Lanka over the forthcoming series. Zimbabwe have just three experienced players left in the squad - new captain Tatenda Taibu, Dion Ebrahim and seamer Douglas Hondo.
After those, there are five with limited international experience and modest statistics, plus six youngsters who have no experience at all at the senior top level. Even with a full side at their disposal, Zimbabwe would have been hard pushed to match the crusty Sri Lankans who have won 22 out of the 29 one-dayers played between the two teams, most of them by big margins.
Marvan Attapatu's team includes five players with batting averages over 30, while Zimbabwe's best is Taibu with an average of 26. Sanath Jayasuriya has played in 313 matches, Chaminda Vaas 232 and Muttiah Muralitharan 229. Zimbabwe's most experienced player is Taibu with 54 and at least three players will be making their debuts.
Both sides practised under a hot sun on Sunday in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe in the nets and Sri Lanka with fielding, concentrating on run-out speed and accuracy of throws for much of the time. Sri Lankan coach John Dyson undertook the session in bare feet because 26 pieces of cricket equipment luggage went missing in Johannesburg on the way to Bulawayo. Five were still astray late on Sunday.
The weather was set fair and green keeper Noel Peck has prepared a wicket ideal for batsmen, which is generally the case at Queens Sports Club here. Whatever the outcome of the match it will represent a new era for Zimbabwe cricket.
The country's plans under an "integration programme" to bring more blacks into top level cricket over a lengthy period, introduced 20 years after independence, have gone out of the window. When Zimbabwe takes the field on Tuesday it will be with a maximum of one white player - 18-year-old Brendon Taylor, if he is chosen. -Agencies
