Olonga and Flower Face Ban

The Zimbabwe Cricket Union is so intent on exacting revenge on Andrew Flower and Henry Olonga for their protest against the Mugabe government that it will try to ban both from playing against Holland and Pakistan, according to sources.

Flower was not named to face Australia on Monday and only the intervention of several key team-mates let him make an appearance. He then scored 62 runs to help the team produce a good showing even though they lost by seven wickets. Those who stuck up for him include Guy Whittall, Craig Wishart, Brian Murphy and Flower's brother Grant, according to sources.

Olonga was not allowed to set foot on the field, despite being named as 12th man. Although the captain Heath Streak said later that the fast-medium bowler was still available for selection, many feel he has become an outcast.

Flower and Olonga wore black armbands when they played against Namibia in Harare on February 10, to highlight the "death of democracy" in their country. Zimbabwe face Holland on Friday and Pakistan next Tuesday, both in Bulawayo.

"The leadership of the cricket union don't care about how the team does on the field any longer; they are simply determined to punish Andy and Henry," said a source from within the organisation. "This vindictiveness is disgusting other players. It is going to set cricket in this country back for many years."

Flower is Zimbabwe's only world-class player yet the selectors tried to omit him by claiming that he had not tried his best against Namibia and India. "That is the lowest blow, a terrible insult to a great sportsman like Andy, whose commitment has never been questioned," said another official.

It is understood that members of the Flower family have received threats to their safety. And team members have been warned not to speak to the press.

It was only when several Zimbabwe players threatened not to play against Australia if Flower was left out that the coach Geoff Marsh went back to the selectors and they changed the line-up. "The team is damaged by this revenge campaign by the ZCU. Many players were angry that Marsh and Streak did not stick up for Andy or Henry," said another source within the organisation. "That left a bitter taste for many team members."

Players have since been warned not to wear black on the field or they will face disciplinary and financial measures.

One source said: "Players are fed up with the way the ZCU has acted. Either they are rabid supporters of Zanu-PF [Mugabe's party] or they are cowards who are not willing to stand up for their players. Either way, it looks bad. This campaign, against the best interests of the team, proves that they are the ones carrying out a political agenda."

Peter Chingoka, head of the ZCU, said: "There has been no such thing. We have an employer/employee relationship and we have instructed both players not to wear anything that will send a political message. Further details between employer and employees would not be appropriate."