Zimbabwe have announced their ODI and T20I squads for the upcoming UAE tour, which runs from October 17 to November 17. The team will face Afghanistan and Bangladesh in an ODI tri-series before taking on Afghanistan in three T20Is and two Test matches.
Sikandar Raza will captain the side in both white-ball formats as Zimbabwe prepare for a demanding run of fixtures. The selectors have retained much of the squad that featured in the recent ODI series against Australia in Harare, while making a few changes to their white-ball combinations.
Tafadzwa Tsiga and Vincent Masekesa included in Zimbabwe squads
Tafadzwa Tsiga and Vincent Masekesa have replaced Innocent Kaia and Graeme Cremer in the ODI squad. Both players have also been included in the T20I squad and could make their international debuts during the tour. Meanwhile, fast bowler Richard Ngarava remains unavailable for the ODI series as he recovers from a back injury.
Kaia has been left out of the ODI squad due to a thigh strain but is expected to be available for the T20I fixtures. Zimbabwe have also named Kundai Matigimu in their T20I squad, with the bowler set to replace Brad Evans for the third match against Afghanistan.
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Zimbabwe set for busy schedule in the UAE
Zimbabwe will begin their ODI tri-series campaign against Bangladesh on October 17 before facing Afghanistan on October 19. Afghanistan and Bangladesh will meet on October 21, with the final scheduled for October 23. The tournament will provide Zimbabwe with an opportunity to test their squad against two international sides.
The three-match T20I series against Afghanistan will be played on October 27, 29 and November 1. The tour will conclude with two Test matches, scheduled for November 5–9 and November 13–17, giving Zimbabwe a busy schedule across all three formats.
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.
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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