One of the most reliable middle-order batsmen to have graced the game from Zimbabwe, Brendan Taylor has been ruled out of the opening T20I against Pakistan in Harare on 21st April due to a gastrointestinal infection.
This could be a big blow for the African minnows who are hoping to start the series on a high. They haven’t played against many top-class teams in the recent past and hence it should be good exposure for a team who is again trying to find a mark in international cricket.
Taylor has not represented his country for over a year. The last time he made an appearance was during the tour of Pakistan last year. Subsequently, he missed out on the one-off Test match against Afghanistan om UAE earlier this year.
The experienced campaigner couldn’t attend the cam prior to the Test due to an illness. He also didn’t take part in the T20I series against the same opponents. Zimbabwe is slated to play Pakistan in a three-match T20I series which will be followed by a two-match Test series. All the match will be played in Harare during April-May.
There is no doubt about the fact that Brendan Taylor is one of the finest Zimbabwe batsmen, especially from the modern generation. He retired from international cricket after the 2015 World Cup for a Kolpak deal. Taylor again returned in 2017 when his deal with Nottinghamshire came to an end owing to family reasons.