The Sunday Mail
AFTER a year in the wilderness, Brian Vitori can bowl again in international cricket and the fast bowler prefers to let his performances do the talking.
The 27-year-old was last week cleared to resume bowling after a 12-month ban.
His story is worth telling but Vitori would rather have it told without his voice.
“I don’t want to talk about it, I would rather focus on my game and won’t say anything about what happened all this time,” Vitori said over the phone last week.
“Since I have been cleared I have received so many calls and messages even from South African journalists, but I am maintaining my stance.”
The fast bowler endured a tough time with his bowling action after being suspended in January 2016.
He remodelled his bowling action and was allowed to resume bowling in June 2016 but was again called for an illegal bowling action during an ODI against Sri Lanka on November 29 of the same year.
Another ban followed.
Vitori worked to remodel his action and recently his elbow extension was found to be within the 15-degree level of tolerance allowed under the ICC bowling regulations.
Now that he is free to play again, there is talk that the fast bowler might be added to the national team that is set to play Afghanistan in five ODIs and two T20s from February 5-25 in the UAE.
Chevrons’ head coach, Heath Streak confirmed that they are exploring the possibility of fast tracking Vitori back into the national team.
“We are discussing it with selectors,” said Streak.
“He offers swing and pace as well as left arm variation to our bowling attack, (he is a) good new ball wicket taker, which is key upfront and also a good fielder and lower order ball striker.”
Attack currently comprises Carl Jarvis, the lanky Blessing Muzarabani, Tendai Chatara and Christopher Mpofu.
Vitori has proven himself on several occasions and hope is that he gets his groove back as Zimbabwe heads into the World Cup qualifiers.
The fast bowler ranks as the first ever player to take two five-wicket hauls in his first two ODIs when he destroyed Bangladesh in Harare in August 2011.
Vitori, who is on the books of Bulawayo Metropolitan Tuskers, has picked up 29 wickets in 20 ODIs at 34.41 with an economy of 5.85.
