Heath Streak has ended his dispute with Zimbabwe Cricket and has signed a contract to play for Zimbabwe again.
“I just need to finalise some aspects of my contract with Warwickshire county so that it ties in with my international commitments,” said Streak. “Otherwise I am ready to play for Zimbabwe when selected. I am putting my weight fully behind the captain, Tatenda Taibu, and the rest of the lads.”
Streak, who is 31 next month, took 234 wickets in 59 Tests for Zimbabwe before last year’s falling-out.
Streak joins Andy Blignaut, who returned to the fold last week under what Zimbabwe Cricket is calling an “open-door policy”. It seems, however, that the left-arm spinner Ray Price will not be making an international comeback: Worcestershire have confirmed that they are expecing him to report at New Road for the beginning of the new English season.
Macsood Ebrahim, Zimbabwe’s convenor of selectors, said that now Streak had signed a contract, he was available for selection subject to form and fitness.
And Peter Chingoka, Zimbabwe Cricket’s chairman, paid tribute to the behind-the-scenes work done by a working party to resolve the issues: “Zimbabwe Cricket is grateful to Mr Addington Chinake and his ad hoc committee for all the work it has done pointing out to the players the roles played by the various structures of the organisation and the separation of functions between administration and players.”