Zimbabwe announce white-ball squads for UAE Tour
Sikandar Raza will lead Zimbabwe in both limited-overs formats as they prepare for an ODI tri-series against Afghanistan and Bangladesh, followed by three T20Is and two Tests against Afghanistan.
Zimbabwe Cricket have announced their ODI and T20I squads for a multi-format tour of the United Arab Emirates, where they will face Afghanistan and Bangladesh in an ODI tri-series before taking on Afghanistan in three T20Is and two Test matches.
The tour will run from 17 October to 17 November, with Zimbabwe retaining much of the core group that featured in recent white-ball series against Australia.
Sikandar Raza will captain Zimbabwe in both limited-overs formats in the absence of Richard Ngarava, who continues to recover from a back injury.
Zimbabwe ODI Squad: Sikandar Raza (Captain), Ben Curran, Blessing Muzarabani, Brad Evans, Brendan Taylor, Brian Bennett, Craig Ervine, Ernest Masuku, Newman Nyamhuri, Ryan Burl, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Tafadzwa Tsiga, Vincent Masekesa, Wellington Masakadza, Wessly Madhevere.
The ODI squad largely features players who faced Australia in Harare last month, with Tafadzwa Tsiga and Vincent Masekesa included in place of Innocent Kaia and Graeme Cremer. Kaia is recovering from a thigh strain and is expected to be fit for the T20I series.
Tsiga and Masekesa are both in contention to make their ODI debuts, while Masekesa has also been named in the T20I squad and could make his debut in the shortest format.
Raza will lead a batting group that includes experienced campaigners Craig Ervine and Brendan Taylor, alongside Ben Curran, Brian Bennett and Tadiwanashe Marumani.
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Blessing Muzarabani will spearhead the pace attack, supported by Brad Evans, Ernest Masuku and Newman Nyamhuri. Masekesa joins Wellington Masakadza and the all-rounders among the spin options, offering further depth to the squad.
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The T20I squad retains much of the group selected for the ODI series, with Kaia included as he works towards a return to full fitness. Tsiga and Masekesa are also in contention for international debuts in the format.
Zimbabwe T20I Squad: Sikandar Raza (Captain), Ben Curran, Blessing Muzarabani, Brad Evans, Brian Bennett, Innocent Kaia, Kundai Matigimu, Newman Nyamhuri, Ryan Burl, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Tafadzwa Tsiga, Vincent Masekesa, Wellington Masakadza, Wessly Madhevere.
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Kundai Matigimu will replace Brad Evans for the third and final T20I against Afghanistan.
The tour will conclude with two Test matches against Afghanistan.
Zimbabwe Tour of UAE schedule:
ODI tri-series:
17 October: Zimbabwe vs Bangladesh
19 October: Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan
21 October: Afghanistan vs Bangladesh
23 October: Final
Zimbabwe v Afghanistan T20I series:
First T20I: 27 October
Second T20I: 29 October
Third T20I: 1 November
Zimbabwe v Afghanistan Test series:
First Test: 5–9 November
Second Test: 13–17 November