The Zimbabwe Cricket Union (ZCU) has offered mediation to try to resolve its dispute with a group of 15 rebel players, the players' lawyer told Reuters on Tuesday.

However, the move is likely to be rejected by the rebels when they meet later on Tuesday. The players demanded the ZCU agreed to arbitration, which unlike mediation is final and binding.

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The players staged a boycott after Heath Streak's tenure as Zimbabwe captain ended on April 2 when he questioned the composition of Zimbabwe's selection panel.

The 15 rebels, most of them experienced players, want arbitration on the captaincy, the selection panel and the alleged poor conduct of ZCU officials.

"We have a letter from their lawyers saying they want us to go to mediation," said players' lawyer Chris Venturas.

Venturas said the offer was unlikely to meet with the approval of the rebels who suspended their boycott on Friday on condition that the ZCU agreed to arbitration by Tuesday.

"We went back as a sign of good faith, and it was unnegotiable that this matter had to go to arbitration to give it the seriousness and the respect it deserves," Venturas said.

"Mediation doesn't assist in any way.

"Regrettably, they feel they will pacify us with a mediation process. Even if the mediator finds in our favour on all three points, the ZCU don't have to abide by his ruling."

Zimbabwe were forced to select an inexperienced squad for the one-day series against Sri Lanka who won it 5-0.

The squad of 17 for the first Test, which starts in Harare on Thursday, includes four of the rebels in pace bowler Streak, batsman Trevor Gripper, all rounder Sean Ervine, and left-arm spinner Ray Price.