The 15 experienced players walked out this month when Heath Streak was replaced as captain by Tatenda Taibu after he questioned the composition of the selection committee.

Zimbabwe were forced to select an inexperienced team for the five-match one-day series against Sri Lanka, which they lost 5-0.

The rebels agreed on Wednesday to make themselves available for selection from Friday, subject to the establishment of a dispute resolution procedure.

The players' lawyer delivered a letter on Thursday to his ZCU counterpart issuing the Tuesday deadline.

"Our clients believe that for the sake of the game of cricket that the only way forward is that a dispute mechanism be established forthwith and a format be agreed to bring this matter to closure," the letter read.

"This should be in the form of a panel of three arbitrators. Our clients have complete confidence in the offices of Mr Muchadeyi Ashton Masunda of the Commercial Arbitration Centre and feel that he should be assisted by an international cricketer and a foreign administrator involved in cricket.

"We believe that the arbitration should be held at a neutral venue and that this should be held as soon as possible and not later than 21days from today's date."

The letter listed the players' terms of reference for the arbitration as "selection criteria", "transgressions by board members", and "unlawful termination of Heath Streak's captaincy".

"Our client wishes to make unequivocally clear that its agreement to return to practice and selection is dependent upon the consent of the ZCU to submit this matter to arbitration in the manner outlined and the reconstruction of the national selection panel," the letter said.

"We would kindly request that due to the urgency of this matter and the impending test series that we receive a substantive response to the above by close of business on the 4 May, 2004."

The first of two Tests between Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka starts in Harare next Thursday.

A player who did not want to be named told Reuters the players would mount a fresh boycott if the Tuesday deadline was not met.

"We are going to practise tomorrow (Friday), and we will be available," the player said. "But if the ZCU hasn't agreed by Tuesday that they will go to arbitration we will pull out again."

ZCU chairman Peter Chingoka said the board needed time to discuss the issue.

"Our lawyers passed it on to us this afternoon, and I need time to discuss it with my colleagues on the board," Chingoka added.