HARARE, Feb 2: Zimbabwe’s players resumed their strike on Thursday after administrators missed a deadline for paying outstanding match fees. The players walked out on Dec 22 over money they say they have been owed since September.

The Zimbabwe government took control of cricket on Jan 6 and told the players the issue of outstanding fees would be settled by Jan 31.

The players suspended their strike until Jan 31 on that basis. The deadline has passed and the players have still not been paid, player representative Clive Field said on Thursday.

“The players made it clear they couldn’t carry on playing until their pay issues are resolved,” Field said.

“They (administrators) missed a deadline that was basically imposed by the government. It’s no good to tell the players they must be patriotic and negotiate in good faith when they miss deadlines.”

Field said the interim committee appointed by the government to run cricket had resorted to negotiating with players individually.

“They have persevered in saying they are going to offer contracts, one-on-one, to selected players,” Field said.

“They’ve made it clear that if a player does not want to accept his contract, they will find someone else.”—Reuters