Grant Flower has been recalled by Zimbabwe after a six-year absence from international cricket.
Batsman to combine coaching role with international comeback
Grant Flower has been recalled by Zimbabwe after a six-year absence from international cricket.
Flower, 39, last appeared for his country in 2004 but has been named in the T20 and ODI squads to tour South Africa in October.
The batsman's international exile - he has spent the last six years in England playing county cricket for Essex - was prompted by a dispute between Zimbabwe's players and the board.
Flower recently returned to the Zimbabwe fold as batting coach and has now agreed to come out of international retirement.
"There can be a conflict of interest with my role as the batting coach if I can't turn things around as a player," said Flower, who played 67 Tests and 219 ODIs between 1992 and 2004.
Pressure
"It can be awkward if I don't. If it works, however, it can come out in positive fashion.
"I just had a good season with Essex, playing some of my best one-day cricket with them, but international cricket is a step up."
Zimbabwe's tour of South Africa features T20 internationals in Bloemfontein (Oct 8) and Kimberley (Oct 10), followed by ODIs at Bloemfontein (Oct 15), Potchefstroom (Oct 17) and Benoni (Oct 22).
Flower, meanwhile, does not rule out the possibility of continuing through to next year's World Cup in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
Zimbabwe squads
Twenty20: Elton Chigumbura (capt), Hamilton Masakadza, Grant Flower, Brendan Taylor, Tatenda Taibu (wkt), Charles Coventry, Chamu Chibhabha, Chris Mpofu, Keith Dabengwa, Shingi Masakadza, Ian Nicolson, Graeme Cremer, Prosper Utseya, Ed Rainsford
ODI: Elton Chigumbura (capt), Hamilton Masakadza, Grant Flower, Brendan Taylor, Tatenda Taibu (wkt), Sean Williams, Craig Ervine, Chamu Chibhabha, Chris Mpofu, Keith Dabengwa, Shingi Masakadza, Ian Nicolson, Graeme Cremer, Prosper Utseya, Ed Rainsford
