Taibu: 'I had not reached my peak'

Tatenda Taibu: 'Cricket loving people are not much involved these days' © Getty Images

Retired Zimbabwe captain Tatenda Taibu says his former Zimbabwe compatriot, Andy Flower, advised him to play cricket in neighbouring South Africa but he has already made up his mind about relocating to England, where he will soon go to play for Lashings and Surrey club side Pyrford.

"After speaking to Andy Flower who, like me, left international cricket abruptly, he reckons South Africa is my best destination," Taibu told Cricinfo in his first interview since returning home briefly to Zimbabwe from Bangladesh where he was playing club cricket.

"I thought Andy was right, especially for a black cricketer like me. They are short of black cricket role-models in South Africa. But I said I will wait for the season in England, and God will show me the way ahead."

Taibu said he immensely enjoyed his stay in Bangladesh, where he played for two months. "The cricket was tough. It's probably in the top three of all the cricket that I have played."

'I just do not a see a future. It's sad that I left before I produce the best that can' © Getty Images

Back in Zimbabwe, Taibu has been playing club cricket for his childhood club Takashinga, one of the six sides disaffiliated by the Mashonaland Cricket Association. A fortnight ago, the former national skipper scored a brilliant century against Old Hararians. "I will be playing for now. I'm just trying to pass on the little experience I got, even though I know that guys might not use it."

Taibu also commented on the battered standards of the domestic game in Zimbabwe, which has deteriorated as a result of the crisis in Zimbabwe cricket. "It's difficult now," he explained. "All the cricket-loving people are not much involved these days."

He stressed again his retirement from international cricket: "I've pretty much cancelled everything. I just do not a see a future. It's sad that I left before I produce the best that can. I had my best years still to come. I had not reached my peak. But you never know what the future holds and what God has in mind."

On his return to Zimbabwe, Taibu has clashed with ZC's interim committee regarding his sponsored car which he has withheld in a bid to recover his outstanding payments.

"They have been phoning asking me to come to the police station," he said. "Then my ZC phone was cut off and I lost a lot of numbers. And they kept phoning again, until I spoke to my lawyer and it stopped."

Taibu, who is taking his wife and five-month-old son to the UK, is looking forward to his move, saying the club is ready to help with his travelling. "It's obviously great," he said. "I always look forward to it every time I meet other cricketers. You learn how they do things, and obviously just to understand them."