Zimbabwe Names Squad for Crucial T20I Tri-Series in Pakistan
The Zimbabwe Cricket Board has officially announced their 15-member squad for the upcoming T20 International tri-series in Pakistan, with a significant last-minute change forcing a key player alteration. The team has suffered a major blow with the news that their premier fast bowler, Blessing Muzarabani, has been sidelined due to a back injury.
Injury Forces Bowling Change
With Muzarabani ruled out, Newman Nyamhuri has received a call-up to the national side as his direct replacement. This series holds immense importance for the African nation as it serves as vital match practice ahead of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup next year. Zimbabwe earned their place in the global tournament by successfully navigating the African qualifiers, marking their first T20 World Cup appearance since the 2022 edition.
The squad will be led by their experienced all-rounder and captain, Sikandar Raza. The team selection shows consistency, as it remains largely unchanged from Zimbabwe's recent home series against Afghanistan, with the exception of the forced change in the bowling department.
Tri-Series Schedule and Venues
The action begins on November 17 when Zimbabwe takes on the host nation, Pakistan, at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Their second match will be against Sri Lanka at the same venue on November 19. The team will then travel to Lahore to play their remaining league matches at the historic Gaddafi Stadium.
Zimbabwe's fixtures in Lahore are as follows:
- They will face Pakistan for a second time on November 23.
- Their final league match is against Sri Lanka on November 25.
The top two teams from the points table will advance to the tournament final, which is scheduled to be played at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on November 29.
Zimbabwe's Road to the World Cup
This tri-series presents a golden opportunity for the Sikandar Raza-led side to fine-tune their combinations and build momentum. It is noteworthy that Zimbabwe entered this series as a replacement team after Afghanistan withdrew due to ongoing cross-border tensions with Pakistan.
The full Zimbabwe squad for the T20I tri-series is: Sikandar Raza (captain), Brian Bennett, Ryan Burl, Graeme Cremer, Bradley Evans, Clive Madande, Tinotenda Maposa, Wellington Masakadza, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Tony Munyonga, Tashinga Musekiwa, Dion Myers, Richard Ngarava, Newman Nyamhuri, and Brendan Taylor.
