Brendan Taylor back in Zimbabwe fold after completing ICC ban

Veteran batter Brendan Taylor has been added to Zimbabwe's squad for the second Test against New Zealand, marking his return to international cricket following a three-and-a-half-year suspension imposed by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for breaching their Anti-Corruption and Anti-Doping Codes.

Taylor was sanctioned in January 2022 after accepting USD 15,000 from Indian businessmen during a trip to Delhi in 2019. The money, framed as part of discussions to launch a private T20 league in Zimbabwe, came with promises of a further USD 20,000. The ICC later revealed that Taylor delayed reporting the approach and also failed a drug test for cocaine use upon returning home.