HARARE, May 15: The Zimbabwe Cricket Union (ZCU) has given the players it fired this week 21 days to return to work. A ZCU media release on Friday gave the 15 rebels "a further 21-day notice to rectify their breaches of their agreements by unconditionally making themselves available at all times to practice and play representative cricket for Zimbabwe in any match for which they are selected".

The release said the 21-day period was effective from Friday, and that a letter to that effect had been delivered to the players' lawyer.

In a long-running saga, the ZCU terminated the players' contracts this week.

The impasse was sparked on April 2 when Heath Streak's tenure as captain ended after he questioned the composition of the selection panel.

Fourteen other experienced players allied themselves with Streak, and the group demanded binding arbitration on Streak's removal from the captaincy, the composition of the selection panel and alleged poor conduct of board officials.

The board offered the players mediation, which is not binding, to resolve their grievances.

The players initially refused the offer, but had accepted it in principle when they were fired.

The release said the ZCU "will not pursue the mediation issue any further".

Zimbabwe have been fielding sub-strength teams against visiting Sri Lanka and face an even tougher challenge from Australia who arrived on Thursday for two Tests and three one-dayers.-Reuters