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Tuesday, 28 July 2009 11:03
CRICKET rebels Trevor Gripper and Barney Rogers are back in the fold and have a real chance of playing for Zimbabwe again.
They were part of the group of 15 players who walked out of the Zimbabwe team five years ago.
But with Zimbabwe making serious efforts to return to Test cricket the signs are positive for the rebels.
So far Cricket Zimbabwe has introduced four franchises — Northern, Centrals, Westerns and Easterns that will compete in a domestic league. The league starts in mid-August.
This is part of the recommendations made by the International Cricket Council for the country’s quick return to the Test fold.
Hugo Ribatika, the CEO of the Northerns franchise, said moves were underway to bring back interested former national team players.
“We have been speaking to many players with regards to joining the Northerns franchise especially the former internationals who want to return to the national team,” Ribatika said.
“Barney has already agreed to sign on and we have just begun talks with Gripper.”
All the franchises have to sign their players by August 5.
Rogers (26), a talented opening batsman and Gripper (33), have been active in the game. They were part of the Red Lions team that participated in the Takashinga Premier Winter League Twenty-20 a fortnight ago.
All-rounder Doug Marillier, who played five Tests and 48 ODIs for Zimbabwe A, express bowler Campbell Macmillan are also believed to be interested in making a comeback.
The imminent return of Rogers and Gripper coincides with Tatenda Taibu’s 10-match ban.
Taibu, the country’s first choice wicketkeeper, was handed the ban by an internal Zimbabwe Cricket disciplinary committee for assaulting finance manager Esther Lupepe earlier this year.
The case has received international media attention. Taibu was acquitted of all charges by the Harare magistrates’ court due inconsistencies in the prosecution’s case.
The ban, which begins immediately but will not apply to the domestic games, means he will miss the five ODI series against Bangladesh, which will run from August 5-19.
Taibu had been training with the 19-man squad but will be left behind when the team leaves for Bulawayo Sunday.
http://www.thezimbabwestandard.com/inde ... &Itemid=65
. Ebrahim had a struggle at top level cricket, but his experience will surely help raise the standards of domestic circuit, if he returns.