England’s Gary Ballance signs a contract to play for Zimbabwe
Former England opener, Gary Ballance pens a deal to play for Zimbabwe after getting released by Yorkshire.
The savvy, gritty English opener, who last played a test match in 2017, is set to play for Zimbabwe. He signed the papers after asking for a new beginning in his career following the damning discoveries made during the club’s racism scandal last year. Gary Ballance’s departure from Yorkshire was announced on Tuesday; the 33-year-old will now return to international cricket with his native Zimbabwe. Between 2013 and 2017, Ballance played 23 Tests and 16 one-day internationals for England.
Last season, the Zimbabwe-born left-hander did not play for the White Rose county, his career disrupted by racism charges and mental health issues. Rafiq identified him as one of the Yorkshire team-mates who used racially disparate language, which Ballance admitted to and apologized for in a meeting between the former pals earlier this year.
Ballance is also facing a disrepute allegation from the England and Wales Cricket Board.
He then asked for the final two years of his Yorkshire contract to be annulled, with the Headingley-based club agreeing on the condition that he will not play for any English county in the 2023 season.
From Gary Ballance.
“I’m thrilled to be joining Zimbabwe Cricket and can’t wait to start work with some great coaches and talented players. The opportunity to represent Zimbabwe has given me a new-found passion and excitement for the game.
“I have kept in touch with a number of people within Zimbabwe cricket over the years and it has been great to watch their recent progress especially.”
Zimbabwe’s director of cricket, Hamilton Masakadza, expressed excitement at the return of a “very skilled and seasoned cricketer.”
“He’s a fantastic addition to our domestic and international setup, and we’re looking forward to him making a significant difference for us,” Masakadza said.
