Courtesy: Google
Former Zimbabwe captain Brendan Taylor, who is serving a three-and-a-half year ban for breaching ICC code of conduct, has revealed his intention of returning to international cricket for Zimbabwe after his sanction ends in July 2025. Back in September 2021, Taylor announced his sudden retirement from international cricket after being blackmailed by match fixers to spot fix. Taylor, who was struggling with drug and alcohol addiction, divulged he was approached by fixers to spot fix after they recorded him using cocaine. Taylor reported the incident to the International Cricket Council (ICC) in January 2022.
Brendan Taylor also joined a rehabilitation centre in Zimbabwe’s Nyanga region and also spent 90 days there to fight from the addiction. He has come out clean now and is eyeing a comeback in the international arena with the aim to serve Zimbabwe in the 2027 World Cup. The right-handed batter will be eligible to feature in international cricket on July 25, 2025, after completing his ban. Zimbabwe Cricket's MD Givemore Makoni played a major role in convincing Taylor to return to international cricket
"I still want to play and I believe I could make an impact as a player. I look at where I'm at physically and mentally and if I didn't feel I could do it, I wouldn't bother. Givemore has really supported me on this. He sort of shut down the coaching role for now and said, 'Can you play and try to push yourself up until the 2027 World Cup?' Granted I'll be 41 then but with sobriety, I'm living my truest form," said Taylor while speaking to ESPNcricinfo.
Zimbabwe will feature in World Cups after 12 years
Zimbabwe, who couldn’t show up in the 2019 and 2023 World Cups, will be seen in the 2027 edition of the marquee One-Day International tournament as the nation is a co-host of the ICC event. Craig Ervine, who captains the ODI side, will be expected to utilise the upcoming two-and-a-half years and prepare the team to be impactful in the huge event.
Taylor also has the potential to make an essential contribution to the side as he is the second most successful batter for Zimbabwe with 6684 runs in 205 ODIs with 11 tons and 39 fifties. Back in 2015 when Zimbabwe played their last World Cup, Taylor emerged as the best batter for the side with 433 runs in six matches at a notable average of 72.16.
