India vs Zimbabwe T20I series: Zimbabwe cricket team has named their squad for the upcoming five-match T20I series against India, with a surprise inclusion in the form of Belgium-born batter Antum Naqvi. However, Naqvi’s participation hinges on confirmation of his Zimbabwean citizenship.
New faces in Zimbabwe squad
The squad features a mix of experience and fresh talent. All-rounders Wessly Madhevere and Brandon Mavuta are back in the fold after completing their suspensions for a drug violation.
Experienced fast bowler Tendai Chatara also makes a comeback after missing the recent series against Ireland and Bangladesh.
Shake-up in Zimbabwe middle order
There are some notable omissions as well. Mainstays Craig Ervine, Sean Williams, Ryan Burl, Joylord Gumbie, and Ainsley Ndlovu have all been dropped from the team. These players featured in the recent T20I series defeat against Bangladesh.
Who is Antum Naqvi?
The most intriguing selection is undoubtedly Antum Naqvi. The 25-year-old batsman has been in scintillating form, having achieved the remarkable feat of scoring the first-ever triple century in Zimbabwean representative cricket earlier this year.
He also captains his domestic team, the Mid West Rhinos, despite being only in his second year of domestic cricket in Zimbabwe.
Antum Naqvi, a top-order batsman with an impressive T20 strike rate of 146.80, was born in Belgium to Pakistani parents but moved to Australia at a young age. He even pursued a career as a commercial airline pilot before dedicating himself fully to cricket.
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Young Zimbabwe squad for India T20I series
With Zimbabwe aiming to rebuild under new coach Justin Sammons, the squad boasts an average age of 27, reflecting the team’s focus on fostering young talent. Captain Sikandar Raza (38) remains the most experienced player with 86 T20I appearances, followed by all-rounder Luke Jongwe with 63 appearances.
This series against India presents a valuable opportunity for Zimbabwe to test their mettle against a world-class team. The inclusion of exciting young prospects like Naqvi (if his citizenship is confirmed) is a positive step towards building a strong squad for the future.
Zimbabwe squad for T20I series against India
Sikandar Raza (captain), Faraz Akram, Brian Bennett, Johnathan Campbell, Tendai Chatara, Luke Jongwe, Innocent Kaia, Clive Madande, Wessly Madhevere, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Wellington Masakadza, Brandon Mavuta, Blessing Muzarabani, Dion Myers, Antum Naqvi, Richard Ngarava, Milton Shumba.
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