The decline of Zimbabwe cricket is not new to anyone. This country boasted off some of the most innovative and talented cricketers like Andy Flower, Guy Whittall and Grant Flower in the 90s. The political and economic turmoil in the country broke the back of cricket in Zimbabwe. There were many cricketers who stopped playing for Zimbabwe because of the high-level corruption in the cricket board. One such name was Tatenda Taibu.
Taibu was only 29 when he bid goodbye to the game. With an experience of as many as 11 years, Taibu was considered as one of the most successful wicket-keeper/batsman after the legendary Andy Flower. The former Zimbabwe captain has scored more than 5000 international runs in his career which includes 150 ODIs and 28 Test matches.
After his early retirement, Taibu had become a full-time devotee of god. He did not wish to stay connected with cricket after he retired from all forms of the game. Post-2012, he did not come in the media spotlight at all. He had no interest in what was going on in the world of cricket either.
He had donated his cricket kit and other things to those who wanted to pursue the game. He lived in a home which had no television set. In one line, Taibu was living a life of a saint.
Suddenly, Tatenda Taibu is in news again. The news will make the followers of Zimbabwe cricket jump in excitement. The former wicket-keeper is back in Zimbabwe cricket, not as a cricketer but as the new convener for Zimbabwe cricket. He would also be looking after quality performance and development of local cricket in the country.
Taibu’s comeback is a fairytale one. If he goes on to improve the worsening cricket scenario in his country, his story would certainly become worth a successful film script.
