Federation of International Cricketers' Association president Tim May has accused ICC of hypocrisy in the light of the warning issued by cricket's governing body to Australia and South Africa to behave in their forthcoming Test series.
The ICC has threatened disciplinary action if the series, which begins on Friday, is not played in a good spirit.
May told BBC Sport that ICC should apply the same standards to the game's administrators.
''The handling of the present Zimbabwean issue has disillusioned the majority of players around the world,'' he said.
''As the game's trustee, the ICC should be charged with maintaining appropriate standards from both players and administration,'' May added.
''Players, particularly in Zimbabwe, will find it difficult to fully accept ICC CEO Malcolm Speed's call when the ICC has not seen the need to intervene, or been able to investigate, serious allegations about the game's administration.'' ''In an environment where players have been subject to threats of physical and other forms of intimidation, public criticism of their on-field behaviour will have a hollow ring,'' May said.
The ICC recently said it would not intervene in the crisis in Zimbabwean cricket as it is only allowed to investigate and intervene in alleged misconduct of players.
Zimbabwean Cricket bosses Peter Chingoka and Ozias Bvute have been accused of mismanagement and were questioned by police about their foreign currency earnings from match fees.
Captain Tatenda Taibu quit recently citing the deteriorating state of the game in the country and personal threats made against him.
May said the governing body's member countries should allow a constitutional change to enable it to look into the affairs of individual cricket boards.