Zimbabwe-Pakistan series to go ahead

Zimbabwe and Pakistan's two-Test series will go ahead as scheduled after the host players, who had been protesting against late payments and had set Monday as the deadline for transferring the money to their accounts, reached an agreement with the board.

Zimbabwe and Pakistan's two-Test series will go ahead as scheduled after the host players, who had been protesting against late payments and had set Monday as the deadline for transferring the money to their accounts, reached an agreement with the board.

Batsman Sean Williams, however, has refused to play in the first Test, which will get underway at the Harare Sports Club on Tuesday. He had previously stated he would make himself unavailable for selection – unless he was remunerated promptly.

Captain Brendan Taylor's participation, meanwhile, remained in the balance. Currently on paternity leave, Taylor was expecting the birth of a son on Monday – and was yet to decide whether he would play.

The Zimbabwean squad had aborted training ahead of last week's third and final ODI against the same opposition. The fixture, though, was played – after the newly-formed union decided against a boycott.

Earlier this year, the players threatened a strike ahead of the series against Bangladesh – for what they considered an unsatisfactory daily allowance for non-centrally contracted cricketers.

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