HEATH STREAK has said that he could make a comeback for Zimbabwe after Ehsan Mani, the ICC president, urged the country’s governing body to make peace with the former captain. But Streak will need assurances of substance behind a commitment from Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) that the door remains open for a return.

He has been working at his father’s ranch at Turk Mine, near Bulawayo, since an ICC investigation in October failed to substantiate allegations of racism inside what was then the Zimbabwe Cricket Union (ZCU). When he plays against England for the Nicky Oppenheimer XI in South Africa on Wednesday, it is likely to be his last game of 2004.

Mani believes that Streak and his fellow “rebels” were badly advised by their lawyer during a dispute that came to a head when Streak resigned as captain over the selection of the team, the lack of a players’ union and the influence wielded by certain ZCU directors, including Ozias Bvute, now the acting managing director of ZC.

“I have been encouraging ZC very strongly to talk to the rebels,” Mani said. “They should try to offer the hand of friendship, unite and move forward. I think it would be wonderful if Heath could play for Zimbabwe again. Cricketers are not familiar with legal positions and sometimes I suspect they get used a little bit.”

Bvute, who insists that Zimbabwe have never employed a quota system, said that ZC would be happy for Streak to return, even though a line was drawn under the dispute with the publication of the ICC’s findings. “I spoke to Heath Streak two weeks ago,” Bvute said. “Certainly the door is still open for him.”

Streak offered a cautious response yesterday. “There honestly is a chance that I can play again for Zimbabwe,” he said. “I think it can happen because we are in an environment where things are changing on a daily basis. It could be anything between a 1 per cent or a 100 per cent chance, it is impossible to say.

“The door being open and the issues being resolved are two different things. I hope some of the things mooted are not just on the surface, that there are genuine moves in the ZC to rectify differences of the past and that there will be no vindictiveness or bad blood if we do return. It is difficult to know if they are being realistic.

“I think we need assurances on the selection side in terms of security because of integration and the manner in which integration is being handled. There is also an issue with the lack of accountability certain individuals have for their actions. That needs to be set straight.”

Since the dispute, an inexperienced national team have been suspended from Test cricket until the end of the year and have lost their past 15 one-day matches. Streak is now concerned about the weakness of the team at a time when the ICC has undertaken a review of the international structure.

The “rebels” now consist of Streak, Stuart Carlisle and Trevor Gripper. Gavin Ewing became the first of the 15 to reappear for Zimbabwe when he played against England two days ago and Barney Rogers could soon join him in the team. The others are playing abroad or finding new jobs.

Streak hopes to be present for at least some of the cricket in Bulawayo this weekend. “I think the side has underperformed in the series so far,” he said. “I hope they compete a little better. A lot of our concern is that we do not want to lose cricket in Zimbabwe altogether while this is going on.”

Zimbabwe are scheduled to return to Test cricket next month with a tour to Bangladesh and Bvute will try to dissuade the ICC from restricting their longer-term programme to home series until the team become more competitive. “There seems to be a disparity between the ICC mandate to spread cricket on the one hand and then think of cutting back on the other,” Bvute said.