Gary Ballance’s Zimbabwe return: After 23 Test appearances for England between 2013 and 2017

Gary Ballance signs a two-year deal to play for his native Zimbabwe following his release by Yorkshire this week amid the Azeem Rafiq racism scandal

  • Gary Ballance has signed a two-year deal to play for his native Zimbabwe 
  • On Thursday, Ballance severed ties with Yorkshire amid claims of racial abuse 
  • Ballance was born in Zimbabwe, but made 23 Test appearances for England 

Gary Ballance has signed a two-year deal to play for his native Zimbabwe following his release by Yorkshire.

Ballance, 33, played five times for Zimbabwe Under 19s before switching allegiance and winning 23 Test caps for England.

Under ICC regulations, a player can represent another country as long as there has been a gap of at least three years since they last played international cricket, meaning he could feature in a home series against Ireland next month. 

Gary Ballance’s Zimbabwe return: After 23 Test appearances for England between 2013 and 2017

Gary Ballance has signed a deal to play cricket for his native Zimbabwe after 23 England caps

Ballance has spent the past 12 months on the sidelines, protecting his mental health, after admitting using racist language towards Yorkshire team-mate Azeem Rafiq.

He agreed to sever ties at Headingley on Thursday despite having two years left on a lucrative contract.

Ballance has not played a professional match for Yorkshire since signing a new three-year deal in September 2021. 

Ballance agreed to sever terms with Yorkshire on Thursday after allegations of racial abuse

Ballance agreed to sever terms with Yorkshire on Thursday after allegations of racial abuse  

As part of the termination agreement, he also confirmed that he will not play for another County Championship team during the 2023 season. 

Sportsmail previously reported on the move to see Ballance representing Zimbabwe, revealing that the 33-year-old did not put forward the paperwork himself. 

Ballance was born and raised in Zimbabwe, playing five matches for their Under-19s side before moving to England in 2006 aged 16. He played 23 Tests and 16 ODIs for England between September 2013 and July 2017.

Ballance was born in Zimbabwe, but made 23 Test appearances for England up to July 2017

Ballance was born in Zimbabwe, but made 23 Test appearances for England up to July 2017

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