Ahead of the white ball tour against Sri Lanka, the Zimbabwe Cricket Board has announced ODI and T20I squads. As Craig Ervine returns to the ODI setup, he will be leading the team whereas Sikandar Raza has been named as the captain of the T20I side. The Chevrons recently appointed Walter Chawaguta as their interim head coach after Dave Houghton resigned from his post.
Craig Ervine injured himself during the home series against Ireland and now will be aiming to help the team gain their lost form.
After fast bowler Faraz Akram made his T20I debut, has been called for the ODIs as well whereas players such as Takudzwanashe Kaitano, Tinashe Kamunhukamwe, Milton Shumba, and Tony Munyonga, who were part of the Ireland series will also feature in the ODI squad against Sri Lanka.
Uncapped off-spinner Tapiwa Mufudza has also been named in the ODI squad after some brilliant domestic performances.
Zimbabwe’s dismal form in white ball cricket
The Chevrons have gone through a lot of ups and downs in white-ball cricket as they were not able to make it to the 2023 ODI World Cup after they lost to Scotland in the Super Six phase of the tournament qualifiers. However, Zimbabwe were undefeated in the group stage and had won 4 out of four games.
Zimbabwe also failed to qualify for the 2024 T20 World Cup from the African region and faced disappointing losses against Namibia and Uganda. The Chevrons finished third in the table and were able to win four out of six games which was not enough for their qualification.
The Chevrons have performed well and developed well as a team in recent times and gave tough competition to every team during the 2022 T20 World Cup. Zimbabwe defeated Pakistan by one run during the group phase of the tournament and had made it difficult for them to qualify for the next round of the tournament.
Sikandar Raza has become one of the top names in the world as apart from being a brilliant batsman, he is also a clever part-time spin bowler and has different types of variations.
Under the leadership of Sikandar Raza, Zimbabwe will be aiming to prepare for the 2026 T20 World Cup and also regain their competitiveness in the upcoming Sri Lankan tour.
Zimbabwe squad for white ball tour against Sri Lanka
ODI squad: Craig Ervine (c), Faraz Akran, Ryan Burl, Joylord Gumbie, Luke Jongwe, Takudzwanashe Kaitano, Tinashe Kamunhukamwe, Clive Madande, Wellington Masakadza, Tapiwa Mufudza, Tony Munyonga, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava, Sikandar Raza, Milton Shumba
T20I squad: Sikandar Raza (c), Brian Bennett, Ryan Burl, Craig Ervine, Joylord Gumbie, Luke Jongwe, Tinashe Kamunhukamwe, Clive Madande, Wellington Masakadza, Carl Mumba, Tony Munyonga, Blessing Muzarabani, Ainsley Ndlovu, Richard Ngarava, Milton Shumba
This will also be the first assignment of newly appointed interim head coach Walter Chawaguta and will want to make a winning start to his return to the Zimbabwe team. Chawaguta served as Zimbabwe’s head coach during 2008 and this is his second stint with the African nation.
The Chevrons’ white-ball tour against Sri Lanka will start on January 6, 2024.