HARARE, Sept 25: After successfully having his ten-year English ban reduced to three years, Mark Vermeulen has returned home to Zimbabwe with one thing in mind – winning back his place in the Zimbabwe national side.

Vermeulen batted and bowled for his old club Old Hararians in a league match against Royal in the Harare provincial Vigne Cup on Sunday, but was dismissed for one after struggling with the pace of the ball and pitch conditions.

“The wickets in England are a bit slow because of the rains,” Vermeulen said. “Coming back home where the pitches are rock hard, the ball skidded a lot and my shorts where hurried. But I enjoy playing pace ... wait until I hit up and you'll see.”

Vermeulen, who flew back to Zimbabwe last week, revealed that his decision return was prompted by comments from Peter Chingoka, Zimbabwe Cricket's interim chairman that he was free to come back and fight for his place.

“I read somewhere that Peter Chingoka said I was allowed to come and play and I came back. That's what I like doing, playing cricket.”

He did note, however, that there was not enough domestic first-class cricket within Zimbabwe: “I need to be playing two or three games a week. To play one game this Sunday and the next the following Sunday is frustrating.”

While saying his main target is Zimbabwe's 2007 World Cup squad, Vermeulen said he will happy to make the ‘A’ side first and work his way up. “I think there are some ‘A’ side matches coming up. I am hoping to at least get into the ‘A’ tours.”

But he ruled out returning to South Africa, where he played club cricket before his summer in England. “At the end of last season I was playing in South Africa because there was no club cricket in Zimbabwe. Now they have sorted out club cricket here so I won't be going to South Africa.”—Agencies