The exiled Henry Olonga, one of the most high-profile opponents to Robert Mugabe's regime, believes it is time for Zimbabwe to begin a gentle reintroduction to Test cricket.
Olonga made history as his country's first black player but is best remembered by many as the man who, alongside the current England coach Andy Flower, made a public show of dissent against Mugabe when the 2003 World Cup came to Zimbabwe.
The pair famously wore black armbands to "mourn the death of democracy" during the tournament, an action which brought about Olonga's retirement at the age of 26. What followed was more serious than the end of a career, though, with Olonga receiving death threats and being charged with treason.
The paceman travelled with the team for a World Cup match in South Africa and never returned to Zimbabwe, eventually settling in England where he petitioned international teams not to tour his country as a stand against Mugabe's human rights record.
Zimbabwe last played a Test match in 2005 after the majority of the team's first-choice players went on strike following a dispute with the national board.
But discussions are under way to restore them to the five-day game as early as next year and Olonga, despite wrestling with his own emotions on the subject, believes now is the time for reintegration.
"I think on the whole it is right for Zimbabwe to move forward," said Olonga, who has just released his autobiography Blood, Sweat and Treason. "It is a difficult decision for me to say that because on the one hand I have protested against countries playing in Zimbabwe and been very up front about that.
"But I think what Zimbabwe needs now is a slow and steady reintroduction to Test cricket. It's not as though whenever Mugabe is out of power, we can start talking about it the next day. By then it is too late. We are starting to play well in one-day cricket now so let's use this momentum and get to the stage where they are a competitive Test side in three or four years.
"The way forward is for Zimbabwe to play some of the lesser teams first and if we don't get beaten in two days then we are heading in the right direction."
Olonga admits he remains uneasy about Mugabe's role in Zimbabwean public life but believes, on a sporting level, the right moves are being made.
A host of big-name former players are being wooed back to help with the national side's development and Olonga feels that confers a certain legitimacy on the team that was sorely eroded in the wilderness years. "I would wholeheartedly support reintroduction because I want Zimbabwe back playing Test cricket, but we still have the problem of Robert Mugabe," he said.
"How do you deal with a man who has presided over the destruction of his own country through his own flawed policies? It's painful compromise but I think Zimbabwe is on the mend. Certainly it is cricket-wise but politically there is still a long way to go.
"Nevertheless, I think positions are softening. Zimbabwe, to their credit, have put in place some reforms and they've got a lot of experienced players back."
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