Zimbabwe batsman charged with arson
Mark Vermeulen played eight Test matches for Zimbabwe
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Thursday, 02, Nov 2006 06:55
Former Zimbabwean Test batsman Mark Vermeulen has been accused of arson, according to media reports.
The 27-year-old from Harare in Zimbabwe was arrested by police after the headquarters of the Zimbabwe Cricket Academy was damaged by fire.
Arson was immediately suspected as the fire followed a blaze in the office of Zimbabwe Cricket's headquarters on Monday.
Reports suggest that Vermeulen had been seen close to the Zimbabwe Cricket Academy following yesterday's fire. If he is found guilty he could spend up to two years in prison.
"He's been detained since yesterday on charges of arson," Vermeulen's father, Roland, told cricinfo.com.
"We don't know at the moment where they are holding him. but we are trying our best to get him out and sort matters while he is outside."
Vermeulen will appear in court to answer the charge of arson on Friday.
He had been banned from English cricket for at least one year after an incident in September where he threw a ball at members of the crowd during a Lancashire League match.
Vermeulen has played eight Test matches for Zimbabwe, during which he scored 414 runs at an average of 25.87.