According to Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC), veteran batter Sean Williams told them he has been battling drug addiction, thus he would not be considered for national selection and his central contract will not be renewed.
ZC mentioned “a history of disciplinary issues and repeated unavailability, which has impacted team preparations and performance” in a statement.
Sean Williams, 39, has almost 20 years of international experience and has played 273 games for Zimbabwe in all formats. However, ZC has stated that his contract will not be extended past the end of 2025.
On the eve of the Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Qualifiers, Sean Williams most recently withdrew from the Zimbabwe squad, for “personal reasons.” After ZC reported on Tuesday that they had carried out an internal investigation to determine the cause of his absence, Williams told the board that he had been battling drug addiction and had willingly checked himself into a rehab facility.
“ZC expects all contracted players to uphold the highest standards of professionalism, discipline and compliance with team protocols and anti-doping regulations,” the board stated in its press release. “While ZC commends him for seeking rehabilitation, withdrawal from team commitments under circumstances involving potential testing raises serious concerns regarding professional and ethical standards.”
Sean Williams made his Zimbabwean debut in 2005 and has since amassed over 8000 runs in all formats. With 5217 runs at an average of 37.53, eight hundreds, and 37 fifties, he was most active in One-Day Internationals. He surpassed James Anderson to become the longest-serving active international cricket player earlier this year.
Nonetheless, Sean Williams was never far from controversy or a strained relationship with ZC.
Despite leading the U-19 team in the World Cup in February 2006 in Sri Lanka, when they defeated England in the tournament’s high point, there were rumors circulating before and after that he was unhappy with the board. The next month, Williams declined a central contract, choosing instead to pursue a more stable career abroad. Three months later, though, he decided to alter his mind and returned to play for Zimbabwe. In 2008, the on-off farrago reappeared when he left again for a contract in South Africa, only to return a few weeks later.
Sean Williams was not selected for the Bangladesh trip in late 2014, despite being one of Zimbabwe’s top spin spinners, due to disruptions during a training camp and a postponed disciplinary case.
“ZC sincerely acknowledges and appreciates his immense contribution to Zimbabwean cricket over the past two decades,” the board stated. “With a lasting impact on and off the field, Williams has been instrumental in some of the most important events in our recent history. ZC hopes that he recovers well and that all of his future endeavors are successful.
India
