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HARARE - Zimbabwe’s domestic Twenty20 cricket champions, Manicaland Mountaineers are keen to have talented allrounder Sean Ervine on a longer contract in a bid to have him return to national colours.

The 27-year-old left-hand batsman and right-arm seam bowler- currently turning out for English county side Hampshire- has joined the Mutare-based franchise for the second edition of Zimbabwe’s premier T20 competition, scheduled between November 13and 21 at Harare Sports Club.

Ervine played for Southern Rocks in the inaugural edition of the Stanbic Twenty20 in February, but the Masvingo outfit has already exhausted its budget by signing legendary West Indian Brian Lara.

Having played five Tests and 42 ODIs for Zimbabwe, Harare-born Ervine quit international cricket in 2004 following an acrimonious dispute between the Zimbabwe Cricket board and 15 senior white players, famously known as the “rebels.”

But in recent times ZC has been reconciling with past players and officials, and Ervine is one of the players the national board views as an asset when the country returns to Test cricket next May.

Mountaineers spokesman Godfrey Koti confirmed Ervine’s signing.

“He will be with us for the Twenty20 only,” Koti told the Daily News. “We are (however) looking for a longer deal. This might tempt him to play for Zimbabwe again, which is the main aim at the end of the day.”

The Ervine family has a long cricket history.

Sean is the oldest of four cricket-playing brothers. The second-born, Craig, is a current member of the Zimbabwe team. The other brothers are Ryan and Richard. The boys’ father Rory and uncle Neil both represented Rhodesia.

Meanwhile, Netherlands allrounder Ryan ten Doeschate arrived in Harare Sunday to join Mashonaland Eagles, the last tournament’s losing finalists.

Since making his international debut in 2006, the 30-year-old South African-born ten Doeschate has big the leading player in the Dutch team, and his arrival for the local T20 series will boost a Mashonaland side struggling to find rhythm so far this season.

eugene wrote:Sean Ervine will only play for Zimbabwe if he cant get something better elsewhere.