Zimbabwe all-rounders Wessly Madhevere and Brandon Mavuta have been cleared and allowed to return to competitive cricket on Thursday following the completion of their suspension over using recreational drugs in December.
After being banned for four months, they underwent rehabilitation as part of Zimbabwe Cricket’s (ZC) high-performance program. They were also fined 50% of their salaries for three months with effect from January 2024.
The punishment was imposed after they tested positive during an in-house dope test in December for the use of a recreational drug.
They were tested again and cleared their dope test after the completion of their suspension period.
“I am pleased to welcome Wessly and Brandon back to competitive cricket after both of them underwent rehabilitation and also passed a drug test carried out to check if they were now clean,” Givemore Makoni, the ZC managing director, said in a statement.
“More importantly, the two players acknowledged their mistakes and have vowed to stay clean and focus on their very promising careers as cricketers.”
Madhevere and Mavuta last represented Zimbabwe in December 2023 during the home ODI series against Ireland, which the side lost 2-1.
Madhevere made his debut for Zimbabwe in 2020 and has since played in two Tests, 36 one-day internationals and 60 Twenty20 internationals.
Mavuta, 26, has four Tests, 12 one-day internationals and 10 T20 internationals to his name.
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Zimbabwe Cricket said Thursday that two national players had been suspended for “recreational drug use”.
“The concerned players, Wesley Madhevere and Brandon Mavuta, both tested positive for a banned recreational drug in an out-of-competition case recorded during a recent in-house doping test,” the board said in a statement.
Madhevere and Mavuta have been suspended “with immediate effect” until a hearing is held on the breach of anti-doping rules.
The board did not say what drug was involved nor when they had failed the tests.
But the suspensions are a new blow after coach Dave Houghton resigned this week over Zimbabwe’s failure to reach next year’s T20 World Cup.
“They have been charged under the Zimbabwe Cricket Code of Conduct for players and team officials and will appear for a disciplinary hearing soon,” the statement said.
Twenty-three-year-old allrounder Madhevere is considered one of the national team’s rising talents. He made his debut for Zimbabwe in 2020 and has since played in two Tests, 36 one-day internationals and 60 Twenty20 internationals.
Mavuta, 26, has four Tests, 12 one-day internationals and 10 T20 internationals to his name.
Both were in the Zimbabwe squad for the one-day series against Ireland this month which the side lost 2-1.
Zimbabwe has started a major inquest after failing to reach next year’s T20 World Cup and being beaten in the Ireland series. Houghton resigned saying he had “lost the change room”.
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Former Zimbabwe captain Heath Streak passed away at the age of 49 in the early hours of Sunday, September 3, following a long battle with colon and liver cancer.
The tragic news was confirmed by his wife through a post on the social media platform Facebook.
“In the early hours of this morning, Sunday the 3rd of September 2023, the greatest love of my life and the father of my beautiful children, was carried to be with the Angels from his home where he wished to spend his last days surrounded by his family and closest loved ones. He was covered in love and peace and did not walk off the Park alone. Our souls are joined for eternity Streaky. Till I hold you again,” she wrote.
Streak, who was diagnosed with colon and liver cancer, saw his condition deteriorate in May, prompting his family to hospitalise him immediately.
Heath Streak was arguably the best all-rounder to play for Zimbabwe. The all-rounder is the all-time leading test wicket-taker for his country. He took 216 wickets and scored 1,990 runs in 65 tests between 1993-2005. He also played in 189 one-day internationals, scoring 2,943 runs and taking 239 wickets.
Heath Streak has also served as the head coach of Zimbabwe, as well as the bowling coach of Bangladesh and two-time Indian Premier League (IPL) winners Kolkata Knight Riders.
In 2021 he was given an eight-year ban from the sport after admitting breaches of the International Cricket Council’s anti-corruption code. He took “full responsibility” for his actions but said he was never involved in any attempts to fix matches.
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