Graeme Cremer available for Zimbabwe selection after seven-year hiatus

Former Zimbabwe captain and legspinner Graeme Cremer has returned to the country's domestic cricket structure and is available for international selection. Cremer, who is 38 and led Zimbabwe between 2016 and 2018, gave up cricket for golf and then moved with his family to the UAE, where his wife Merna works as an airline pilot. He has now made his return in Zimbabwe's National Premier League, the 45-over club competition.

ESPNcricinfo has confirmed he is eligible for selection for the national side and could be in contention for September's T20 World Cup Qualifiers, which will be played in Zimbabwe.

Cremer last played international cricket in March 2018 and has been involved in coaching roles in Dubai, including with the Rajasthan Royals Academy. He is now playing for the defending champions, Takashinga Patriots 1 Cricket Club, and is the leading wicket-taker after two matches.

"It's amazing being back," Cremer told 3-mob.com about his return after the match against Queens Sports Club in Kwekwe. "Kwekwe was my home ground for many years, so it was great walking out and being part of Takashinga, which is such a prestigious club. They welcomed me into the team and it was an amazing team environment. I'm really happy with the start."

Cremer took 4 for 43 as Takashinga defended 263 for 6 and won by 134 runs. That match, played on August 3, also featured Brendan Taylor, who has subsequently made his return to the Test side after serving a three-and-a-half-year ban for breaching the ICC's anti-corruption code. Taylor scored 61 in that match as he tuned up ahead of his international comeback.

"We are close friends, myself and Brendan, so it was an amazing feeling being on the field with him again and nice to see him score some runs," Cremer said. "It's great watching him bat, and then walking out onto the field with him, just how we communicate because we have played so much cricket together. It really helps someone like that out with me."

Taylor and Cremer are two of Zimbabwe's most experienced players, and their return to the set-up with two ICC tournaments (T20 World Cup 2026 and ODI World Cup 2027, which Zimbabwe will co-host) speaks to Zimbabwe Cricket's seriousness to ensure they qualify. Zimbabwe missed out on the last T20 World Cup in the USA and the Caribbean after losing to Uganda in qualifiers and have not played a 50-over World Cup since 2015 after missing out on both the 2019 and 2023 editions.

Zimbabwe will host the Africa Regional Qualifier for the upcoming T20 World Cup from September 26 to October 4. The tournament consists of eight teams, and the top two will progress to the main event.