Cash-stripped Zimbabwe decline offer to play one-off Test against top-ranked South Africa

Harare: Crippled by a player strike and facing serious financial difficulties, Zimbabwe's cricket board has turned down a one-off Test against South Africa before the top-ranked South Africans host Australia next month.

Zimbabwe Cricket spokesman Lovemore Banda says the Zimbabweans weren't able to accept the offer and will instead play two Tests and a limited-overs series against South Africa sometime around August.

Zimbabwe's players have been on strike since last year over unpaid wages and bonuses and ZC has also had to cancel tours by Sri Lanka and Afghanistan.

South Africa was left without any international cricket throughout January when India shortened its tour and dropped a planned third Test.

After a 5-0 Ashes drubbing of England, Australia's Test squad arrives in South Africa tomorrow for a three-match series.