July 13, 2007	Friday	Jamadi-us-Sani 27, 1428

HARARE, July 12: Sources close to Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) have confirmed that former captain Tatenda Taibu is on the verge of signing a new contract with the board. Taibu left international cricket in November 2005 after threats against him and his family at a time the players were locked in a bitter row with senior board members. Since then he has tried to form a career in Bangladesh, England and Namibia with inadequate achievement.

“He wants to play for Zimbabwe, he has been training with the squad for weeks now to keep himself fit,” Kevin Curran, the national coach, said. “I know he is finalising his contract but that is not my department. Hopefully he will be in action against India ‘A’.”

Taibu, who has remained silent throughout his time away from Zimbabwe cricket, was less sure when he spoke to the Sunday Mail.

“I have seen some media reports saying that I am going to make a comeback,” he said.

“I only asked Curran if I could train with the team and that is all. I still have to make a decision and there are a lot of things that I have to consider. My lawyer is in talks with ZC and I will only make a decision when those talks end,” he added.

An obstacle could well be the money that Taibu has been owed by the board for almost two years. Along with several other leading players who have walked away from Zimbabwe, most notably Heath Streak, Taibu was not paid what could total hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Some of them, including Taibu, have refused to hand back sponsored cars while the dispute rumbles on.—Agencies