Kit row costs Taibu his place

It's been a tough few months for Tatenda Taibu, both on and off the field.

While he has been appearing in court after being charged with assault on a ZC employee, he has also lost his place in the national side as a result of dispute over his kit.

It all started when some of Zimbabwe's equipment was left behind in Bangladesh at the end of their tour there in January. The remainder of the squad manage to rescue the most important items, but Taibu did not. He then refused to play in any of the five ODIs in Kenya claiming he was uncomfortable in any kit other than his own.

On returning to Zimbabwe, he played the first three Faithwear Cup matches and then declared himself unavailable for the remaining two games. A board spokesman told Cricinfo that he "cited as his reason for not playing dissatisfaction with the kit Zimbabwe Cricket had given him, saying his bat handles had been shortened to his specifications".

That, allied with dissatisfaction among the national selectors and concerns that with his kit not guaranteed to arrive in India from Bangladesh he might again refuse to play, led to him being dropped.

"The panel then chose Forster Mutizwa whose form and availability were not in question," the spokesman said. "In terms of form, he has continued to do well not just as wicketkeeper but also with the bat, since his debut in Kenya. As for availability, Mutizwa returned home and played all his Faithwear matches to the satisfaction of the selectors."