Streak has been offered the chance to stay in the ranks

After a meeting on Saturday, the ZCU announced Streak will be replaced by 20-year-old Tatenda Taibu.

Streak was sacked last weekend when he threatened to quit unless changes were made to the selection panel.

The move could prompt a mass defection of senior players, who have set a Wednesday deadline for Streak's return and changes to the selectors.

A senior player was quoted by the Guardian newspaper as saying: "We've asked them to reverse the captaincy decision back to Streak and they have said they won't.

"If that's the case there are a few of us who are going to leave purely on that basis."

Taibu is set to become the youngest international skipper in the history of the game when he leads Zimbabwe out to face Sri Lanka later this month.

Streak was given the option of remaining a player and he is said to be considering his career.

The ICC should do something to stop this farce. They should suspend the ZCU, with the cancellation of all tours involving Zimbabwe! From Flanflinger Have your say on TMS

A meeting between Streak, his lawyer Chris Venturas and two players, Grant Flower and Andy Blignaut, with chairman Peter Chingoka, chief executive Vincent Hogg and three board members went on all afternoon and into the evening.

It had been mutually convened following a meeting of senior contract players at a secret Harare location to decide how best they could support Streak.

The possibility of a strike was considered but rejected, according to one player who asked not to be identified.

Streak said he had no regrets about querying the make-up of the selection panel, the issue which led to him losing the captaincy.

"I knew the selection issue was a touchy one and has been for some years. It really does need to be addressed."

Zimbabwe are due to host a Test and one-day international tour by Sri Lanka, which begins in Bulawayo on 20 April.