THE executive director of the Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations (FICA) says it is willing to work with the Zimbabwe Professional Cricketers Association (ZPCA) in dealing with issues facing local cricketers.
BY DANIEL NHAKANISO SPORTS REPORTER
Fica executive director Tony Irish, who was accompanied by the association’s head of player services and advocacy Andrew Breetzke, said this after meeting Zimbabwe cricketers in the capital yesterday.
Irish, who is also the chief executive of the South African Cricketers’ Association, said they had a constructive meeting with local players and Fica was looking forward to working ZPCA.
“We had a meeting with a large group of the professional players here including the players who have been selected for the ICC World Twenty20 event in Bangladesh and it was a very good meeting.
“We are here to understand their problems; to try and provide them with information, assistance and a way forward in dealing with Zimbabwe Cricket on various issues,” Irish said.
The visit by FICA officials came at a time when local cricket players have been at war with the local governing body Zimbabwe Cricket over outstanding salaries, only agreeing to call off their boycott last week after a two month strike.
“It’s not a surprise that players here have had a tough time in particular over the last six months or so and the players now have got a players’ association. So it’s FICA’s role to assist the players and their association,” he said
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Irish called for more cooperation between the local players’ association and Zimbabwe Cricket, citing examples of other cricketing nations around the world where the two parties work together.
“There needs to be constructive discussions between the Zimbabwe Professional Cricketers Association and ZC on these issues. Hopefully that will now happen. It’s also important to understand what happens in other parts of the world.
“Most cricketing nations are similar in the way they operate and although ZC might be a smaller cricket economy than the other countries there are still common ways in which things are dealt with. Certainly that’s the case in SA. We have a very constructive relationship with Cricket South Africa ZPAC secretary-general Eliah Zvimba said ZPCA would learn a lot from the relationship with FICA.
“We are very excited that we are not alone, we have other compatriots who share the same sentiments with us. The meeting was very fruitful because we had some very critical insights on how to move forward as an association. We now have light on what should be done as you might be aware than our association is still in its infancy.”
Fica was established in 1998 to coordinate the activities of all national players’ associations and protect the interests of professional cricketers throughout the world.
Its members total 70% of the full member countries. However, its representations and benefits are extended to all players, whether from FICA countries or not.
