Taibu walked out of Zimbabwe cricket in November 2005 after falling out with the Zimbabwe board - in particular chairman Peter Chingoka and managing director Ozias Bvute - over player welfare and governance issues. He also claimed his family had been threatened.

He had stints in the UK and Namibia, where he never really established himself, and has periodically returned home. However, in the last month, Taibu has reportedly been training with the Zimbabwe team in Harare and looking very much involved in the thick of things, although at first he was said to be practicing to stay in form.

But sources close to Taibu have revealed that he is engaged in talks with management and influential board directors, and chances are that if they agree terms, he will be drafted back into the team.

It is said Taibu has received support from most of the players who want him to be reinstated as captain.