Sinokubonga Nkala
Brandon Moyo, [email protected]
ZIMBABWE Cricket (ZC) have made a few changes to their white-ball squads that played against Pakistan last week as they shift focus to Afghanistan, whose series gets underway at Harare Sports Club tomorrow.
The Chevrons and Afghanistan are scheduled to face off in a full series comprising three T20Is, as many One Day Internationals (ODIs), and two Tests.
The 20-over matches at Harare Sports Club will get the ball rolling, followed by ODIs at the same venue and Tests in Bulawayo.
ZC announced their white-ball squads yesterday, with the major highlight being a maiden call-up for England-born Rhinos star batter Ben Curran.
He is son of the late Kevin Curran, a former Zimbabwe international and coach, and also the brother of England internationals Tom and Sam Curran. The two are World Cups winners with England.
Ben’s maiden call-up to the national team comes as no surprise, as the 28-year-old has been in scintillating form in domestic cricket.
In his four List A innings this season, Curran has scored a century and two half-centuries. His latest half-century came against Southern Rocks last Thursday, where he made 53 runs off 72 balls. Curran’s century came against Tuskers, scoring a brilliant 125 runs off 130 deliveries.
He boasts an impressive average of 64.50 and was picked for the ODI squad.
Left-arm fast bowler Newman Nyamhuri — who grabbed the limelight at the ICC Men’s Under-19 World Cup in South Africa earlier this year — also received a call-up to the senior squad, alongside seasoned campaigner Victor Nyauchi.
At just 18, Nyamhuri has been one of the country’s standout young talents, impressing earlier this year at the ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup in South Africa, where he emerged as Zimbabwe’s leading wicket-taker with eight scalps. The promising pacer has since drawn praise as a “future star” of Zimbabwean cricket.
The trio of Curran, Nyamhuri, and Nyauchi replace (in the ODI squad) Faraz Akram, Brandon Mavuta, and Clive Madande, who is recovering from a dislocated shoulder.
The rest of the squad from Zimbabwe’s recent ODI series against Pakistan remains unchanged.
In the only changes to the T20I squad, Nyamhuri comes in alongside opening batter Takudzwanashe Kaitano, who is in line to make his debut in the shortest format. Madande and Mavuta miss out due to injury and selection adjustments.
The white-ball series will be played at Harare Sports Club, starting with three T20Is on 11th, 13th, and 14th December, followed by three One-Day Internationals (ODIs) on 17th, 19th, and 21st December 2024.
From there, the two teams are set to face off in a historic Test series at Queens Sports Club, starting on Boxing Day.
The Test series will mark Zimbabwe’s first home Boxing Day Test in 28 years, a significant moment for local cricket fans.
The team will also host their inaugural New Year’s Test at the same venue, adding to the excitement surrounding the Afghanistan tour.
ZIMBABWE T20I SQUAD:
Sikandar Raza (captain), Faraz Akram, Brian Bennett, Ryan Burl, Trevor Gwandu, Takudzwanashe Kaitano, Wessly Madhevere, Tinotenda Maposa, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Wellington Masakadza, Tashinga Musekiwa, Blessing Muzarabani, Dion Myers, Richard Ngarava, Newman Nyamhuri
ZIMBABWE ODI SQUAD:
Craig Ervine (captain), Brian Bennett, Ben Curran, Joylord Gumbie, Trevor Gwandu, Tinotenda Maposa, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Wellington Masakadza, Tashinga Musekiwa, Blessing Muzarabani, Dion Myers, Richard Ngarava, Newman Nyamhuri, Victor Nyauchi, Sikandar Raza, Sean Williams. — @brandon_malvin
Siphakeme .Mnindwa
