Australia could renew cricketing ties with Zimbabwe next year starting with a series between the two countries’ A teams, the African country’s Sports Minister David Coltart has revealed.
The Zimbabwe A team will likely tour Australia in mid-2011, the first step in an agreement that would also see an Australia A side play in Zimbabwe.
No Zimbabwean team has toured Australia since 2003.
“There is a spot in 2011, but the trouble is that slot was for two tests in Australia, and … there’s a recognition that to throw this young team into the test arena against Australia at this stage would be counter-productive,” Coltart told Australian Associated Press.
“We’ve discussed other means of utilising that slot but with more appropriate opposition.
“It’s very much tentative at this stage.
“[An A series] is what the discussions are centering on, the exchange of A teams rather than at test level.
“We’ve discussed an exchange of tours, in other words [tours] both ways.”
On Monday New Zealand announced that it too was looking to restore cricketing ties with Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe recently hosted India and Sri Lanka for a triangular one day international series. — AFP