By Anna Thompson

This is effectively the collapse of cricket in the country I represented and loved playing for Henry Olonga Test series called off

Former Zimbabwe player Henry Olonga has called for Zimbabwe's Test status to be suspended because of the player crisis.

Olonga, who quit the national side after the 2003 World Cup, believed the current second-string side was ruining the credibility of the game.

On Friday, Zimbabwe's Test series against Australia was postponed. Olonga told BBC Sport: "They should lose their Test status until they can assemble a side which can compete with even a team like Bangladesh."

International Cricket Council president Ehsan Mani said Zimbabwe's status as Test-playing nation was currently not under threat.

All issues relating to the situation will be discussed at an ICC meeting at the end of June in London.

But Olonga said: "Zimbabwe should be suspended until the current situation can be rectified.

"At the moment, world cricket would be lacking credibility if this team continued to play."

The crisis centres on an ongoing row with 15 players, who refused to play because they did not agree with selection procedures at the Zimbabwe Cricket Union.

Blignaut and Streak have been sacked by the ZCU

They have been sacked by the ZCU and their places have been taken by players with few first-class games under their belts let alone Test experience.

The ZCU made the decision to postpone the Australia Test series ahead of an emergency ICC teleconference where a vote on the issue would have been taken.

Olonga said: "I'm not surprised the ZCU made the decision before the teleconference.

"I think the ZCU realised they were in a really dire situation and would have been backed into a corner which would have been difficult to get out of had the ICC vote gone ahead.

"As it is they are still in a difficult situation as we don't know what's happening with the rebel players."

Olonga, who wore a black armband denouncing the death of democracy in Zimbabwe during the World Cup said there were wider issues in the country which needed addressing.

I fear the damage that has already been done may be irreparable Henry Olonga

He said: "The people in Zimbabwe will be disappointed the Test series has been called off.

"But over the last couple of years, there have been some growing wider issues in the country, which I think are much bigger than any cricket tour.

"I'm not pleased because this is effectively the collapse of cricket in the country I represented and loved playing for.

"I don't think anyone is pleased it has come to this but it's probably a necessary step in trying to bring about a resolution to the problems in Zimbabwe.

"The problems in Zimbabwe cricket are merely a reflection of what is happening in the country as a whole."

Olonga said somewhere down the line, the ZCU and the rebel players were going to have to reach a solution but it seemed neither side were prepared to budge.

"The ZCU is going to have to give some ground for the greater good of the game and the rebel players are going to have to compromise too.

"But I fear the damage that has already been done may be irreparable."

And he believes England now have a good reason for not touring Zimbabwe in October.