Cricketers in boycott over unpaid wages

The Zimbabwe national team cricketers boycotted a local twenty-over tournament Monday over unpaid wages and bonuses, a players’ representative said. 

“The situation is not healthy, everyone is sad. As I speak no games are being played. We checked our (bank) accounts and there was nothing,” Eliah Zvimba told AFP.

“Morale is very low in the team. You are talking (about) hungry and angry people.”

The players went on strike two months ago over unpaid wages and bonuses dating back to last September and staged a sit-in Monday at Harare Sports Club, where a domestic tournament was set to take place.

Zvimba said they will resume playing only when they are paid outstanding wages. He said although the Zimbabwe Cricket Union (ZCU) has shown “commitment to paying them, the players can play only after they have been paid”.

Brendan Taylor, the national team captain, refused to comment. AFP