The former England hitter is set to make his Zimbabwe debut later this month. He was called up to the T20 series squad for three games against Ireland.
Former England hitter Gary Balance will make his debut for Zimbabwe later this month after being called up to the squad for three games in this month’s Twenty20 series against Ireland on Wednesday.
The left-handed 33-year-old signed his two-year contract to play domestic and international cricket in his home country after being released from his Yorkshire County cricket squad last month. He will play in his three matches against Ireland at the Harare Sports Club from 1-12 September at the T20 World He Cup which will take place in Australia in September. He is one of four changes made to the 15-man team. 12-15
Balance joins the squad after Zimbabwe’s main all-rounder Sikandar Raza was given permission by Zimbabwe Cricket to play franchise cricket in Bangladesh this month.
Balance said that between 2014 and 2017 he made 23 Tests for England, including four centuries, where he scored 1,498 runs and averaged him 37.45. He also appeared in 16 one-day international competitions, but was allowed to switch his international affiliation.
The Harare-born player spent last year on the sidelines while dealing with mental health issues after admitting to using racist language against his former Yorkshire teammate Azeem Rafiq. I spent it as Yorkshire, who released Balance from his contract two years ago at the player’s request, have made sweeping changes at the club following Rafiq’s outbursts of systemic racism.
Balance personally apologized to Rafiq.