Dion Ebrahim was released by Taranaki CC to play in Zimbabwe

[Detective RDS]

Link: http://www.taranakicricket.co.nz/senior/news.asp?area=2

1/09/2009
Dion Ebrahim

Taranaki cricket officials are reeling after former Zimbabwean international Dion Ebrahim reneged on a contract to play and coach in the province this summer.

In June, Ebrahim renewed a joint contract with the Taranaki Cricket Association and Hawera United Cricket Club.

But Ebrahim, 29, broke the news he wanted a release from his contract to TCA chairman Neil Sulzberger in a phone call at the weekend.

"Dion's been approached to see if he would go back to Zimbabwe and play first-class cricket and be available to play international cricket," Sulzberger said yesterday.

Sulzberger said Zimbabwe Cricket was looking to resurrect its top level international cricket fortunes.

That includes seeking to play test cricket again.

Sulzberger said the TCA had few options available under the contract other than to release Ebrahim.

"It's pointless TCA trying to force him to honour the contract because he has an opportunity to resurrect his international career which understandably he is pretty keen on. So we released him to give him that opportunity."

While disappointed with the outcome, Sulzberger had nothing but praise for what Ebrahim had done for Taranaki cricket in his time in the province.

"`You cannot question the capability of Dion. He really added value, he was dedicated to his work and he was a terrific person in his own right."

It is the second time in the space of three seasons an overseas player has signed with Taranaki then reneged just before the start of the season. In 2007-08 it was English professional Aftab Habib who quit after winning a job to coach the Hong Kong cricket team.

Ebrahim is playing cricket in England. If he had returned to Taranaki it would have been his third successive summer playing cricket in the province.

Ebrahim experienced drama on and off the field in his career of 29 tests and 89 one-day internationals for Zimbabwe.

A former Zimbabwe vice-captain, he turned his back on his homeland in 2006.

Ebrahim was in the thick of the Zimbabwean cricket crisis at the time.

He was one of several players who disputed the payment of test match fees.

Under their contract, the Zimbabwe players were to be paid about US$200,000 dollars.

However, according to Ebrahim in a interview with the Taranaki Daily News in 2007, officials tried to pay them in almost valueless Zimbabwe currency.

Meantime, the TCA has started its search for a suitable overseas player to fill the post vacated by Ebrahim.

Sulzberger said he had obtained the names of nine overseas players from an agency as a starting point.

"So we're looking at our options."

Sulzberger is hoping to reach a decision on whether or not to secure a replacement overseas player within 10 days.

He said Hawera United had indicated it was keen to have the same partnership arrangement with the TCA that was the basis of Ebrahim's contract.

"So if a replacement is signed then he will be based at Hawera."

The TCA has ruled out the possibility of hiring a New Zealand cricketer.

"The type of person we are looking to employ is not available here," Sulzberger said. "The ones we would consider are all playing first-class cricket."

Ebrahim was awarded the Les Jones Cup as top runscorer for the Taranaki representative team in the 2008-09 season at the TCA annual meeting last Thursday night. Ebrahim was a prolific run-scorer batting in the top or middle order for Hawera United and Yarrows Taranaki last season.

His highest score was a match-winning 147 for Taranaki in a Chapple Cup 50-overs match against Wairarapa

[Sir Mupariwa]

I think players have a bit of confidence in the board for them to want to play for Zim. The only question is can Deon get a place in the national side cuz there are so many good players to compete against. I feel we are going to have a very good A side cuz there is such a large player base to select from and everyone who doesn't make the first 15 will probably go to the A side and with the intercontinental cup going on it will be good competition against the likes of Ireland, Afghanistan and Kenya