Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) has announced that veteran batter Sean Williams will not be considered for national selection and his central contract will not be renewed. The decision comes after Williams disclosed his ongoing struggle with drug addiction and his voluntary entry into rehabilitation. This follows a history of disciplinary issues and repeated unavailability, which has impacted team preparations and performance.
Williams, 39, has played 273 matches for Zimbabwe across all formats in an international career spanning over 20 years. He has scored over 8000 runs for the national team, with his highest output in ODIs, where he made 5217 runs at an average of 37.53, including eight hundreds and 37 fifties. Earlier this year, he became the longest-serving active international cricketer.
However, Williams' relationship with ZC has been tumultuous. He has been involved in several controversies and has had a fractured relationship with the board. In 2006, he turned down a central contract to pursue a more settled career overseas, only to return three months later. In 2008, he again quit for a contract in South Africa, only to return weeks later. In 2014, he was not considered for a tour of Bangladesh due to interruptions in his involvement in a training camp and an aborted disciplinary hearing.
ZC acknowledges Williams' immense contribution to Zimbabwean cricket over the past two decades and wishes him strength in his recovery. Despite the recent developments, ZC commends Williams for seeking rehabilitation and hopes for his continued success in future endeavors.
