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If you've been following our Twitter feed, you'll have noticed the is he, isn't he saga of Sean Ervine's potential return to Zimbabwean colours. I haven't reported on this until now, as it's far from clear what's going on, but here's the current position:

Ervine announced to the media earlier in the week that he would be leaving Hampshire to return to playing for Zimbabwe. Ervine is a Kolpak player with Hampshire, a status that doesn't allow him to play international cricket unless one of two things happens: he leaves the club, or his status is changed to an overseas player. Hampshire already have their quota of overseas players, so that seems unlikely.

That leaves leaving the club as the likely option, and the one he's mentioned to the media. However, he doesn't appear to have mentioned this to the club, who are now looking to hold clear-the-air talks with him to determine exactly what's going on. As far as Hampshire are concerned, he still has one year left to run on his contract with them and can't simply walk away.

In the midst of this, Zimbabwe Cricket are due to announce their final 15-man World Cup squad this morning, which Ervine is expected to be named in - but can they take the chance on naming a player who ultimately may not be able to play for them? The whole saga is a mess, to be honest, and one that's not exactly covering Ervine in glory. More when I get it.

The Daily News reports that Henry Olonga is now "more open: to the prospect of returning to Zimbabwe, following overtures made by ZC Managing Director Ozias Bvute:

"My reaction hasn’t changed that much from when he (Bvute) first got in touch in that I can’t give a definite answer. But I am more open to possibilities now than I was ever before."

If he did return, though it would not be to accept a full-time job, as he sees his future in with other work - music, evangelism and art. Which does make you wonder what his role could be.
Daily News - I might return - Olonga

Hot on the heels of Henry Olonga's call for Zimbabwe to make a full return to international cricket comes a rather surprising response from ZC. Ozias Bvute, who Olonga has specifically fingered as being untrustworthy and one of his remaining concerns about ZC, has invited Olonga to return to ZImbabwe and play a role in helping the redevelopment of the game there, according to the Daily News:

"Henry remains a hero to so many young kids in this country and I still hope he will change his mind and return to his country of birth and help with our cricket renaissance. He has been much in the limelight recently promoting his book and he has said a couple of peculiar things about us ... I just wish we could meet and talk about the issues he still has with Zimbabwe Cricket.

"The 2003 World Cup was a long time ago and Zimbabwe Cricket has been through some tough times since then. I know he was angry, but we can resolve that. Lots of us were angry in Zimbabwe Cricket but we have emerged stronger, wiser and more determined than ever. We really appreciate Henry’s words of encouragement regarding returning to Test cricket but I can’t understand why he would rule out a return to Zimbabwe, even just for a couple of visits. Why would he burn bridges?

"He will always be a role model, someone for youngsters to look up to, and we’d love to see him back -- in whatever capacity. He left the country and retired from cricket under extremely unfortunate circumstances but, as far as we are concerned, we’d like to put the past behind us and move on to a brighter future."

Olonga returning to Zimbabwe seems unlikely in the near future - his black armband protest was seen as treasonous in certain circles, and Olonga has cited concerns abut his personal safety as one reason he hasn't been back to the country since. But an olive branch has certainly been offered.
Daily News - ZC extends Olonga olive branch

CricInfo has news that Henry Olonga has restated his desire for cricketing contacts to be restored with Zimbabwe, despite his own misgivings about some of the people running ZC - although he has ruled out returning home himself:

"Personal safety is still a consideration for me, although the Zimbabwean government seems to be softening. The winds of change are blowing through the country. Maybe it's time now to consider bringing Zimbabwe out of isolation from a broader perspective.

"We still have the issue of slightly suspicious gentlemen running the sport. I don't really trust the man [Bvute] but he's shown a genuine desire to re-engage with some of the former players. They have extended the olive branch to players like Heath Streak and a few others, to try to get some of these players back involved in the running of cricket because their loss has cost the country."

Zim sports minister David Coltart is also set to meet with Cricket Scotland to discuss Scotland's Intercontinental Cup fixture with Zimbabwe XI - pressure is on CS to agree to play the fixture in Zimbabwe instead of on neutral ground, and Coltart is hoping to reassure the Scottish authorities that the country is safe:

"I have to go and speak to Scottish cricket authorities, and one of the main things they want to do is have me speak to the players because they are nervous about going out. They've seen pictures. One has to recognise that there is a lot of scepticism in the UK regarding this political arrangement. My main task is to try to overcome that scepticism. I can't disregard it because in some respects it's well founded."

England do seem to be in a minority of one as far as their views on cricket contact with Zim are concerned. Coltart has proven himself to be rather persuasive when speaking the Australian and New Zealand authorities - hopefully his good run will continue with the Scots.
CricInfo - Olonga asks for renewal of ties with Zimbabwe

There seems to be a bandwagon rolling in favour of Zimbabwe's return to Test cricket - the latest name to come out in favour of the idea is Henry Olonga, who famously joined Andy Flower in the black armband "death of democracy" protest at the 2003 Cricket World Cup. That protest marked the end of Olonga's cricketing career, and since then he's generally been against the idea of Zimbabwe being treated as a 'normal' cricketing nation, but he now thinks the time is right for Zim's return:

"I think on the whole it is right for Zimbabwe to move forward. It is a difficult decision for me to say that because on the one hand I have protested against countries playing in Zimbabwe and been very up front about that. But I think what Zimbabwe needs now is a slow and steady reintroduction to Test cricket. It's not as though whenever Mugabe is out of power, we can start talking about it the next day. By then it is too late.

"We are starting to play well in one-day cricket now so let's use this momentum and get to the stage where they are a competitive Test side in three or four years. The way forward is for Zimbabwe to play some of the lesser teams first and if we don't get beaten in two days then we are heading in the right direction."

Andy Flower also recently spoke out in favour of Zimbabwe's return, making representations to the MCC on how best Zimbabwean cricket could be assisted in their return.

Olonga makes further comments on the current state of Zim cricket in his full interview at Sporting Life. Worth a read.
Sporting Life - Olonga Wants Zimbabwe Test Return

CricInfo are reporting that Doug Marillier and Andy Blignaut have been named in a provisional 30-man squad for Zimbabwe's tour of the West Indies - something of a surprise as, while the return of both men to the Zimbabwe scene is very welcome news, neither has any recent cricketing form on which to base their selection. The full provisional list has yet to be made public.

In related news, Sean Ervine has been signed by Southern Rocks for the remainder of the season, although the player remains unavailable for national selection (he's also currently signed to Hampshire under a Kolpak contract, which precludes international play). Rocks have also signed Australian all-rounder Ian Harvey.
CricInfo - Blignaut and Marillier included in provisional squad for West Indies

Former Zim bowler Mluleki Nkala has joined the Midwest Rhinos on a short-term basis, according to the Sunday News. Nkala currently plays and coaches in the UK, but has agreed to join the Rhinos until he returns to the UK at the end of the month.

That said, the player does appear to have longer-term aims with another franchise side - Tuskers are reported to be reviewing the position of current coach Robin Brown after their poor run of form this season, with Nkala's name having been raised as a possible replacement - despite the side having apparently rebuffed his approaches to them about joining as a player:

"I wanted to join Matabeleland Tuskers but the impression I got was that they were not interested so I decided to join Midwest Rhinos."

According to the paper, Nkala would accept the coach post if it were offered to him.
Sunday News - Nkala joins Midwest Rhinos

One of the players that gets occasional mention in the "where are they now" department is Allan Mwayenga, who last appeared in Zimbabwean colours during the 2005/06 SAA Inter-Provincial competitions, when he played for Zimbabwe U23. Today's Herald has news that he was recently convicted of fraud charges and sentenced to six years' imprisonment, with four-and-a-half of those suspended subject to certain conditions. He's currently appealing against his conviction and sentence - more details in the Herald report. Hat-tip to forum member CrimsonAvenger for spotting the news.
The Herald - Jailed ex-cricketer gets reprieve

Piet Rinke would have been on most people's list of players expected to return to the new franchise setup in Zimbabwe, but apparently that's not going to happen, as it was announced today in the York Press that Rinke has been appointed head of the new York Cricket Academy in England. Rinke is described in the article as a 'full-time coach', which would seem to knock any speculation of a playing return on the head. More over at the York Post website. Tip of the hat to forum member CrimsonAvenger for spotting the news.
York Post - York Cricket Academy opens with Zimbabwean international Piet Rinke at the helm

In an interview with Bangladeshi newspaper Prothom Alo, Mark Vermeulen has claimed that both Grant Flower and Andy Blignaut are set to return to Zimbabwean cricket. The interview reports that Flower is currently completing a level 4 coaching course in the UK, and will return to Zimbabwe once that is complete, most likely as player/coach for one of the franchise sides. Blignaut's return is also described as 'almost certain'.

The full article is unfortunately not in English - thanks to forum member Detective RDS for translating the relevant portions, you can find the relevant forum thread here.
Prothom Alo - Mark Vermeulen Interview