In anticipation of the five-match T20I series between Zimbabwe and India in Harare, batsman Antum Naqvi has been called up for the first time. However, his admission is contingent upon his citizenship status being verified.
All-rounders Wessly Madhevere and Brandon Mavuta of Zimbabwe were called up for the series after serving their drug-related suspensions. After being excluded from the series against Bangladesh and Ireland, seasoned fast bowler Tendai Chatara, who last competed in the T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier, also managed to get a berth.
Sean Williams, Ryan Burl, Joylord Gumbie, and Ainsley Ndlovu were cut, although Craig Ervine and Sean Williams were not taken into consideration for selection*. The five players participated in Zimbabwe’s most recent Twenty20 International match, a 4-1 away series in Bangladesh.
The 25-year-old Naqvi gained notoriety at the beginning of the year when he became the first player from Zimbabwe to score three hundred fifty in a match. In just his second year of Zimbabwean domestic cricket, he led the Mid West Rhinos and hit an undefeated 300 for them in the Logan Cup.
Naqvi, a top-order batsman, has seven T20 matches under his belt with a strike rate of 146.80. He was born in Brussels, Belgium, of Indian and Pakistani ancestry, and relocated to Australia at the age of four, where he obtained a license to operate commercial aircraft. According to BBC Sport, he postponed his flying career to focus on cricket.
Zimbabwe is looking to rebuild under new head coach Justin Sammons after missing out on the T20 World Cup 2024. The squad’s average age of 27 for the match against India reflects the aim.
With 86 Twenty20 Internationals under his belt, captain Sikandar Raza, 38, leads the team in experience, followed by all-arounder Luke Jongwe, 63, in T20I appearances.
Zimbabwe squad for T20I series against India
Sikandar Raza (capt), Faraz Akram, Brian Bennett, Johnathan Campbell, Tendai Chatara, Luke Jongwe, Innocent Kaia, Clive Madande, Wessly Madhevere, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Wellington Masakadza, Brandon Mavuta, Blessing Muzarabani, Dion Myers, Antum Naqvi, Richard Ngarava, Milton Shumba
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