Taibu is back - but not for Zimbabwe

FORMER Zimbabwe skipper Tatenda Taibu has ruled out a return to international cricket saying he is totally content with spending the rest of his days doing the Lord's work.

Taibu, a veteran of 28 Tests and 150 One Day Internationals, shocked the cricket world when he signed for Liverpool and District side Hightown St Marys last month.

Many believed this was the first step to a return to international cricket.

However, the 32-year old Taibu, who walked away from cricket four years ago to concentrate on Christian ministry, said he remains "very much retired".

"I have been told that there is a lot of excitement, back home, that I'm coming back to play cricket," said Taibu in an interview from his new base.

It is something which I marvel at. I am quite surprised that my name still draws some attention in the cricket circles there.

"To clear the air, I am still very much retired. I did not come out of retirement, I am just here doing some community work and working on publishing my autobiography.

"The autobiography is basically my life story and will centre on how I grew up, my cricket career and my decision to leave the sport (twice) right up to my conversion.

I have already spoken to two publishing companies, one in Northampton and the second in Liverpool."

So what is happening at Hightown St Mary's?

"As far as my relationship with Hightown St Mary's goes, there have a lot of things that have attracted my interest.

They have a school, Hightown Club has cricket, rugby, some mental health awareness programs that I am interested in helping them out with. I'm still in talks with the school to see what the complete package will be," he said.

Taibu insisted he did not regret walking away from international cricket.

"You see, the way I do things can never be understood by mere man, and as such I don't expect any to understand," he said. "I just follow what I'm led by Him (God) to do. If I feel that He is leading me to go to India from here, I will just pack my clothes, tell my family and go.

"This is because my family has seen a lot of what the Lord has done for me and many others, and they know that it is He leading us." Taibu could not be drawn into opening up on what else he has been up to away from church matters.

"Most of my time has been spent praying for the sick and helping teens to accept Christ and to have a closer and more personal walk with Him.

I still do that and will continue until the Lord takes me from here. There is no better satisfaction than to leave a footprint in someone else's life."

Taibu's decision to stay retired will, however, not affect his status as one of the most exciting players in Zimbabwe's history.

He made his international debut on June 23, 2001 during the West Indies tour to Zimbabwe and was touted as the heir to former skipper Andy Flower.

While he didn't reach the heights Flower hit, Taibu stitched together a decent career, playing 28 Tests and 150 One-day Internationals in a career stretching over 11 years. One of the highlights his man-of-the-match performance in 2005 against Bangladesh when he made 85* and 153 to help Zimbabwe draw a Test they looked destined to lose.