HARARE, May 6: The 12 striking white Zimbabwe cricketers will cancel their contracts with the Zimbabwe Cricket Union on Friday if a letter sent to the ZCU is either ignored or its contents are rejected. If that happens it will bring to an end their Test and international careers which in many cases could last a further 10 years or more.

Such players as spinner Ray Price, one of the world's best, all-rounder Sean Ervine, veteran Grant Flower, batsmen Craig Wishart and Stuart Carlisle and paceman Andy Blignaut, could disappear from the sport at top level.

Their decision to bring matters to a dramatic end, one way or the other, comes the day before a three-week ultimatum to return to duties, issued by the ZCU, also comes into effect on Friday.

The Union told the players that they would face action which means either suspension or dismissal, if they did not report for practice and make themselves available for selection by then.

Grant Flower, who has become the players' spokesman, said that the letter to ZCU, submitted on Tuesday, was a last ditch attempt to persuade them that arbitration by an international figure or figures was the best and only way through the impasse. -AFP