Cricket
Zimbabwe captain Heath Streak resigned on Friday and was immediately replaced by wicketkeeper Tatenda Taibu, the Zimbabwe Cricket Union (ZCU) said.
Streak resigned after he allegedly made several demands including the team selection crite-
ria and the immediate review of the selection panel, which the ZCU said they could not meet.
"Streak raised a number of issues and demanded that they be met by Monday or else he would resign from all forms of cricket," saidtheZCU.
"Instead of accepting his demands, the ZCU board unani-
mously accepted his resignation from all forms of cricket with immediate effect."
Taibu becomes the new captain and will take charge of the team for the first time when Zimbabwe play against Sri Lanka in two weeks time.
Taibu, who turns 21 on May 14, is set to become the youngest Test captain in cricket history when he leads Zimbabwe against the islanders in the firstTest in Harareon May 6.
The youngest Test captain is currently Mansur All Khan Pataudi, who was 21 years and 77 days old when he led India in 1961 -62.
Streak had earlier Friday presented the cricket union's board of directors with an ultimatum during their quarterly meeting.
He had wanted the selection panel to be reduced from five to four, all of whom should have played first class orTest cricket.
"None of the black directors currently running the game in the country meet these criteria," said ZCUlnastatement.
"Streak said he had no confidence in the teams being selected and was under stress as he was doubling up as the players' representative since the players were continuously presenting griev-
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ances to him," the cricket body said.
ZCU said earlier in the week Streak had expressed lack of confidence in the team's coach Geoff Marsh accusing him of misrepresenting him to the selectors.
"The directors expressed anger at the move taken by Streak saying that one of the conditions of his assuming the post was that he would captain any side selected," said ZCU.
The directors also considered Zimbabwe's poor performance against Bangladesh early this year.
Streak's resignation comes as two International Cricket Council chiefs concluded their visit to Harare Friday as the debate over England's proposed tour later this year rumbles on.
Streak, who has played 59 Tests and 183 one-dayers, was recently signed by county outfit Warwickshire for the coming season.
He made his international debut against Pakistan in 1993-94 and has career Test wickets of 202 and best bowling figures of 6-87. He also made 1,814 Test runs with a top score of 127 not out.
Streak also took 234 one-day wickets with a best of 5-32 and hit 2,752 runs with a highest score of 79 not out.
He captained Zimbabwe in 21 Tests, in which they achieved four victories, drew six and lost 11.
Zimbabwe won 18 of the 68 one-
day internationals they played with Streak at the helm.
YOUNGEST SKIPPERS Zimbabwe's Tatendu Taibu is set to become the youngest Test captain in the history of the sport after the resignation of Heath Streak on Friday.
Taibu won't be 21 until May 14 -Zimbabwe's first Test against Sri Lanka in Harare starts on May 6 while the one-day series begins on April 20.
TEST
21 years 77 days: Nawab of Pataudi Jr. (IND) v WIS, Bridgetown, 196162
21 years 194 days: Ian Craig (AUS) v RSA, Johannesburg 1957-58
22 years 15 days: Waqar Younis (PAK) v ZIM, Karachi, 1993-94
22 years 83 days: Graeme Smith (RSA) v BAN, Dhaka, 2003
22 years 260 days: Javed Miandad (PAK) v AUS, Karachi, 1979-80 ONE-DAY
21 years 354 days: Waqar Younis (PAK) v WIS, Sharjah, 1993-94
22 years 71 days: Graeme Smith (RSA) v IND, Dhaka, 2003
23 years 126 days: Sachin Tendulkar (IND) v SRI, Sharjah, 1996-97
23 years 162 days: Javed Miandad (PAK) v WIS, Karachi, 1980-81
23 years 196 days: Moin Khan (PAK) v IND, Sharjah, 1994-95