Zimbabwe crisis grows

A huge shadow was cast over Zimbabwe's future in international cricket after 13 of the country's senior players refused to train in Harare today ahead of the one-day series against Sri Lanka.

Negotiations collapsed last night between the Zimbabwe Cricket Union and the 13 white players, who will in all likelihood now be lost to the game.

The players reiterated their demands that Heath Streak be reinstated as captain, that changes are made to the selection panel and that the ZCU own up to incidents of misconduct.

ZCU chairman Peter Chingoka threatened to sue any contracted player who did not turn up for Ricardo Gonzalez who completed his second round in 66.

Belgium's Nicolas Colsaerts was struggling to repeat the form which saw him take a one-shot overnight lead. The 21-year-old, who hit an opening 65, was level par for the round after seven holes to leave him on seven under par overall. practice. Rain forced the session to be postponed until later in the day, but ZCU managing director Vince Hogg said the rebels were in breach of contract.

The 14-strong squad selected for the first of five one-day internationals on Tuesday contained only two white players and only four who could claim that they would make it into a fullstrength team on merit.

Developments are being watched closely at Lord's, where the England and Wales Cricket Board will be quietly hoping the crisis can give them a way out of October's tour of Zimbabwe.

David Mellor: Page 79 Jonathan Agnew: Page 76

Meanwhile, Ian Poulter was leading the European challenger after a level par opening round of 71 in the MCI Heritage at Hilton Head Island in South Carolina.

That left him four shots behind leader Cameron Beckman. Davis Love, five times winner of the event, opened with a