Former Zimbabwe cricketer Brendan Taylor is expected to return to international cricket as his ban comes to an end this month. The 39-year-old could join the Zimbabwe squad for the upcoming Test series against New Zealand.
Although Taylor’s name was not included in the official Test squad announced on Tuesday, several reports suggest he will be added later. The two-match Test series against the Black Caps is scheduled to begin on 30 July in Bulawayo.
Taylor was banned in 2022 for three and a half years after admitting to breaching the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) anti-corruption code. He had accepted a $15,000 “deposit” related to spot-fixing during a trip to India in 2019. Taylor later revealed he was blackmailed into accepting the money but claimed he never went through with any fixing.
In addition to the anti-corruption violations, Taylor also tested positive for benzoylecgonine — a cocaine-related substance — in a doping test conducted in September 2021. As a result, he was also charged with breaching the anti-doping code.
Following the charges, Taylor retired from international cricket. He had played 34 Tests, 205 One Day Internationals (ODIs), and 45 T20 Internationals for Zimbabwe before his ban.
After stepping away from the game, Taylor initially considered a career in coaching. However, he recently shared that he still hopes to contribute as a player. He has expressed his desire to play in the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup.
With his ban ending on Saturday, sources including ESPN Cricinfo report that Taylor will likely be added to Zimbabwe’s Test squad shortly after. If confirmed, this will mark a significant comeback for one of Zimbabwe’s most experienced players.
The cricket world now watches closely as Taylor prepares for a possible return. His comeback could be a turning point in both his journey and Zimbabwe’s cricket future.India’s women’s team has been making headlines lately—read how Harmanpreet Kaur’s century sealed a big win over England: Harmanpreet Kaur’s Century Secures India’s Series Win
