zimcricketnews.com

Zimbabwe's professional players are due to meet on Friday to consider the implications of ZC's decision to withdraw from Test cricket for at least the remainder of the year. Given their recent strike action was only halted in an effort to maintain Test status, it's at least possible the decision could trigger yet another player strike.

Meanwhile, former player Stuart Carlisle has launched a broadside at the ICC over their handling of Zimbabwe's woes. According to BBC Sport, Carlisle claims the suspension of Test status could have been avoided if the ICC had intervened when Zimbabwe's problems began to arise several yeasr ago:

"I put 95% of the blame on the ICC. They could have done a lot more and avoided this. But they just didn't want to get involved. One day the ICC is going to have to stand up and make a decision on something. They can't always pass it on and say it's an 'internal matter'. They're going to have to grow a spine and make a decision."

For their part, the ICC is now working to ensure that other Test nations fulfil their one-day fixtures against Zimbabwe. In a statment on the ICC website, Ehsan Mani welcomes Zimbabwe's decision:

""Zimbabwe Cricket has taken a sensible step in withdrawing from its Test cricket commitments for the coming year. The Zimbabwe team has demonstrated in recent series that it is not in a position to be competitive in Test cricket and its decision to withdraw from its commitments over the next 12 months helps protect the integrity of the international game. During this period we will support Zimbabwe Cricket by encouraging other members to host and undertake tours that expose Zimbabwe's elite cricketers to the longer form of the game. We will closely monitor the performance and progress of the team and towards the end of the year we will work with Zimbabwe Cricket to determine the most appropriate course of action."

But the exodus may already have begun. The Zimbabwe Independent reports that Tinashe Panyangara looks set to join Lincolnshire Premier League side Holton-le-Clay, subject to obtaining a work permit. If the current woes drag on, you have to wonder if there will be any players left when the time comes to reconsider Zimbabwe's Test future.
Cricket 'spineless' on Zimbabwe (BBC Sport)
Zimbabwe's players consider their options (CricInfo)
ICC welcomes decisions of Interim Board to withdraw from Test cricket and investigate financial allegations (ICC)
Panyangara set to join English side (Zimbabwe Independent)