HARARE, Feb 22: Zimbabwe's World Cup cricket squad have been forced into signing new contracts, and have been promised a bonus of $US17,000 depending on their performance in the Caribbean next month.

The players were summoned to a meeting recently by Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) and told that failure to sign the new two-year contract would result in their immediate eviction from the World Cup squad. Unsurprisingly, all the players signed.

ZC are concerned about a mass player exodus following the World Cup, hence the rush to tie the squad into new contracts, but they remain hopeful that the country's reintroduction to Test cricket in November will provide a further incentive for them to stay on.

The World Cup side will face a newly formed Zimbabwe A team today and on Friday.—Agencies