Zimbabwe Cricket not to renew contracts of staff members

Additionally, five cricketers — Brendan Taylor, Graeme Cremer, Sikandar Raza, Craig Ervine and Sean Williams — did not feature in the recent matches against Australia and Pakistan due to non-payment.

Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) has announced they will not renew contracts of “almost all” staff members following a “financial reconstruction” of the organisation. The board, however, assured that the players’ contract will be reviewed and agreed by the next week, according to a report on ESPNCricinfo. “These are tough times and tough decisions are required to preserve cricket in Zimbabwe,” ran a ZC release.

However, five senior cricketers — Brendan Taylor, Graeme Cremer, Sikandar Raza, Craig Ervine, and Sean Williams — did not feature in the T20 triangular series, also featuring Australia and Pakistan, and the five-match ODI series against Pakistan, all at home. Hamilton Masakadza led Zimbabwe in what turned out to be a month-long hammering for the hosts. Of the five, Taylor had announced that he will be “getting back to work” once payments are made.

This “financial reconstruction” is probably a direct outcome of an ICC announcement in June. While ICC had promised financial aid to counter over-expenditure and debt (this included payment of paying player salaries last month), they will not longer receive the two annual payouts, a privilege enjoyed by other members.

Zimbabwe will next play three ODIs and three T20s against South Africa in end-September.

About the Author