By Agencies

In Short

• Zimbabwe announces young squad for 5-match T20I series vs India
• Sikandar Raza will lead Zimbabwe’s squad in T20I series vs India
• Zimbabwe’s 5-match T20I series vs India begins on July 6

Zimbabwe Cricket have announced a young squad for the upcoming five-match T20 International (T20I) series against India, with veteran all-rounder Sikandar Raza set to lead the team.

The series will take place in Harare, starting this weekend.

A notable inclusion in the squad is Belgian-born Antum Naqvi, a 25-year-old batter whose selection is pending the confirmation of his citizenship status.

Born in Brussels to Pakistani parents, Naqvi moved to Australia before expressing his desire to represent Zimbabwe.

He has applied for naturalisation and, if approved, will add significant firepower to the Zimbabwean lineup.

Naqvi has shown impressive form in domestic cricket, boasting a strike rate of 146.80 in T20s and averaging 72.00 in first-class cricket and 73.42 in List A cricket.

Under new head coach Justin Sammons, Zimbabwe is looking to rebuild after failing to qualify for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.

The squad, with an average age of 27 and a total of 558 T20I appearances, blends youth with experience.

At 38, captain Sikandar Raza is the team’s most experienced player, having played 86 T20Is. He is followed by 29-year-old all-rounder Luke Jongwe, who has 63 appearances.

Other experienced players include pace bowlers Richard Ngarava and Blessing Muzarabani, aged 26 and 27, with 52 and 51 T20I matches respectively.

The squad sees the return of several key players, including Tendai Chatara, Wessly Madhevere, Brandon Mavuta, Dion Myers, Innocent Kaia, and Milton Shumba.

Clive Madande, Brian Bennett, Johnathan Campbell, Wellington Masakadza, Tadiwanashe Marumani, and Faraz Akram have been retained from the previous squad.

However, five players from the last T20I series against Bangladesh in April have been omitted.

Veterans Craig Ervine and Sean Williams were not considered for selection, while Ryan Burl, Joylord Gumbie, and Ainsley Ndlovu did not make the cut.

The series will begin at the Harare Sports Club, with the first two matches scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, starting at 1 PM local time.

This series represents a crucial opportunity for Zimbabwe’s emerging talents to gain international experience and for the team to regroup under new leadership, aiming for a positive outcome against a formidable Indian side.

ZIMBABWE SQUAD: Raza Sikandar (captain), Akram Faraz, Bennett Brian, Campbell Johnathan, Chatara Tendai, Jongwe Luke, Kaia Innocent, Madande Clive, Madhevere Wessly, Marumani Tadiwanashe, Masakadza Wellington, Mavuta Brandon, Muzarabani Blessing, Myers Dion, Naqvi Antum, Ngarava Richard, Shumba Milton.