HARARE (Zimbabwe), March 26 Andy Blignaut is set to return to international cricket after being included in Zimbabwe's squad for the ICC World Twenty20 in the West Indies.

The 31-year-old all-rounder was named in the 15-man group released exclusively to The Associated Press on Thursday. Blignaut last played for his country in 2005 before joining a strike by players dissatisfied with their contracts.

He was also involved in a dispute with Zimbabwe's cricket board in 2004 which resulted in the sacking of 15 senior white players.

Former Zimbabwe under-19 batsman Craig Ervine, the younger brother of Hampshire's Sean Ervine, was called into the national squad for the first time. There is no place for the older Ervine, who is still tied to a contract in English county cricket.

Top-order batsman Chamu Chibhabha returns after shining in Zimbabwe's domestic Twenty20 competition last month, where he was the second highest run-scorer.

The 12-team Twenty20 competition begins on April 30. Zimbabwe is grouped with Sri Lanka and New Zealand.

Squad Prosper Utseya (captain), Brendan Taylor, Charles Coventry, Andy Blignaut, Hamilton Masakadza, Tatenda Taibu, Greg Lamb, Elton Chigumbura, Vusi Sibanda, Ray Price, Graeme Cremer, Chamu Chibhabha, Chris Mpofu, Timycen Maruma, Craig Ervine.—AP