Dave Houghton, the head coach of Zimbabwe, has stated that he is prepared to welcome Gary Ballance, who has been barred from selection for the England team due to his involvement in the Azeem Rafiq racism case, to his own land.
If Ballance wanted to play for his own nation, Houghton said he "wouldn't say no."
Ballance, who was born in Harare and played for Zimbabwe at the under-19 level, later came to England to finish high school. From 2014 to 2017, he wore the Three Lions' jersey in 23 Tests and 16 One-Day Internationals.
Following allegations of racial abuse from a former teammate from Yorkshire, Azeem Rafiq, the England and Wales Cricket Board last year placed him on an indefinite selection ban.
Ballance can now play for Zimbabwe on the international stage because the required three years have gone since he last donned the England colours. A family connection to Houghton, whose wife is Ballance's father's cousin, may make the transfer even more alluring, according to a media story.
"I've known Gary since he was a kid and I speak to him quite regularly," Houghton said before his team's second one-day international match against Australia.
"Even though Gary still needs to settle certain issues in England, I don't believe he would object to returning to play for Zimbabwe. We won't turn him away if he wants to return because I believe he still has eight to nine strong years in him "The media cited Houghton's statement.
Ballance, who still has two years left on his current Yorkshire contract, has only appeared three times for the second team this season after previously missing out due to persistent mental health issues. He is not likely to be retained as an international player, according to the report.