The past few months in office have really been strenuous on me Vince Hogg Olonga: Hogg exit very sad

It follows a bitter dispute between the ZCU and 15 players which followed the sacking of Heath Streak as captain of the national team.

The outcome of the row has been that Zimbabwe will not play any more Test cricket this year.

"I have decided to resign because I was no longer enjoying the work," said Hogg, who will step down in August.

"My view is that the recent player dispute was ill-conceived at the outset and has left both parties and cricket in Zimbabwe worse off.

"I personally did not agree with the action taken by the players in boycotting games and breaching their contracts."

Zimbabwe were forced to field an inexperienced, youthful team in recent home series against Sri Lanka and Australia.

They lost every match, although the scheduled Tests against Australia were cancelled amid concerns about preserving the "integrity" of Test cricket.

'No political pressure'

Hogg now plans to resume a career in business, having worked as a property development consultant before taking the ZCU post in 2002.

Tatenda Taibu succeeded Streak as Zimbabwe's captain

A former seam bowler, he was a member of Zimbabwe's squad at the 1983 World Cup in England, and served as convenor of selectors from 1988 to 1994.

Announcing his resignation, he insisted he had never been "pressured by any political force or government department" while overseeing the ZCU's business and financial interests.

"It has been a privilege to work for cricket in Zimbabwe and to see the emergence of many talented young cricketers, both black and white, over the past couple of years."

Streak, who is now playing county cricket in England, said he was surprised the resignation had not come earlier.

"Maybe if he had cricket at heart he should have tried to stick it out and tried to fix things.

"He understands a lot of the problems, but I don't think he has helped the situation by not being prepared to stand up and say what's right and wrong."

Zimbabwe will take part in the ICC Champions Trophy tournament in September and also due to play one-day series against England and Pakistan before the end of the year.