Zimbabwe cricketers form 'players union' for salary negotiations, quit practice

The Zimbabwean cricket team led by captain Brendon Taylor

Zimbabwe cricketers have formed a ‘players union’ to present a united face to their cricket board in a fight for higher salaries. The team has also quit practice, just a week ahead of their first match against the visiting Pakistan team.

The Managing Director of Zimbabwe cricket, Wilfred Mukondiwa, has revealed that he was aware of the recent happenings but had not expected the union to form this quickly. He has also confirmed that Zimbabwe cricket is in negotiations with the players, and the series against Pakistan will not be disrupted.

The Zimbabwean cricketers are being represented by five senior players in their negotiations with the board. The players holding talks with the board are Brendan Taylor-the present captain, Elton Chigumbura, Prosper Utseya, Vusi Sibanda and Hamilton Masakadza.

The demand is for match fees to be paid to the players for every game, in addition to the salaries that they receive through the central contract sysytem.

There have been reports that the players want US$5,000 for Test matches, $3,000 per ODI and US$1,500 for every T20 international that is played, according to Cricinfo.

The Zimbabwe players have not received payments for the month of July due to ‘liquidity problems’ faced by the board, but the players have been promised their dues, revealed Mukondiwa.

There had been dissatisfaction among players even in April ahead of the Bangladesh series when some non contracted players were not paid their dues. Players such as Craig Ervine chose to play club cricket in the UK as opposed to playing for Zimbabwe.

Players associations have not worked in the past, as was evident in an earlier attempt made in 2004 when all white players in the team staged a walkout. But this time, things appear to be different as there isn’t a race issue which separates the players.