The move by Zimbabwe Cricket came on the day of the government-imposed deadline for a resolution in the ongoing players strike.

With no resolution in sight, leading lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa is expected to begin a civil action to reclaim more than �400,000 owed to the team.

Meman went to see his lawyer after being given three months' notice - a move he called "an absolute disgrace".

Meman has been in charge of almost all Zimbabwe's senior international teams since 1991 and has also spent time as a selector.

Richie Kaschula, one of three national selectors, also received a letter informing him that he would be out of a job in three months' time.

Kaschula told the Associated Press he was fired under the Labour Relations Act, but claimed the action was illegal.

The other national selectors, volunteers Macsood Ebrahim and Ethan Dube, have already stood down.

The 35 players under previous contracts will not negotiate new ones until they have been paid everything outstanding.

They are claiming match fees for two Tests and six one-day internationals against New Zealand and India in August and September, plus salaries going back at least five months, together with other allowances and expenses.