Zimpapers Logo

Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
NATIONAL cricket team player Tendai Chatara who broke his leg during a social soccer match last week, is likely to lose his lucrative contract with Zimbabwe Cricket.

According to an impeccable source, Chatara is one of the players on Zimbabwe Cricket’s centralised contract, which bars cricketers from participating in contact sport to protect them from injuries.

“Unlike the franchise cricket contracts which expire at the end of the season, centralised contracts are given to national team players and run for a year. The fast bowler breached the contract and his injury rules him out of action for six months. ZC might decide to cancel his contract,” said a source.

He will miss India’s tour to Zimbabwe between July and August.

Asked to comment, ZC spokesman Lovemore Banda said: “During off-season I don’’t remember whether or not the contract prohibits one from participating in contact sport.”

According to a ZC statement, the 24-year old Mountaineers player suffered the injury in Mutare, in a collision with a goalkeeper while playing social soccer to keep fit during the local cricket off-season.

An X-ray confirmed that Chatara suffered an oblique fracture of the tibia and a transverse fracture of the fibula. A specialist recommended that there was no need for surgery.

“We took the pace bowler to Doctor Bowers and discussed with the specialist the available options. He advised conservative management instead of an operation saying the treatment has less side effects,” said Zimbabwe national team physiotherapist Anesu Mupotaringa.

Chatara will be in a full cast immobilisation for four weeks and a below-knee cast immobilisation for six weeks, depending on X-ray results after the initial four weeks.

A programme is being set up for him to continue working on his upper body and core while his leg heals.