Youngest test captain Tatenda Taibu retires at 29 for ‘true calling’ as Zimbabwean preacher

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

HARARE, Zimbabwe — Former Zimbabwe captain Tatenda Taibu says he’s retiring from cricket at 29 to become a preacher.

Taibu, a wicketkeeper-batsman who became the youngest test captain in history at 20, said in a statement Tuesday that he is leaving the game because his “true calling now lies in doing the Lord’s work.”

Taibu played 28 tests and 150 one-day internationals, but often angered officials by criticizing Zimbabwe’s cricket administration.

When Zimbabwe returned to test cricket last August after a six-year absence, Taibu described the reformed national body as a “newly painted house with rotten foundations.”

Taibu became captain in 2004 following a dispute over new selection rules that set a quota of black players to represent Zimbabwe in a sport that was traditionally white-dominated. Taibu stood down as captain in 2005.

11:19ET 10-07-12