Zimbabwe have left out as many as seven players who featured in the contingent that recently played against Namibia while naming their T20I squad for the upcoming T20Is against Afghanistan. The omissions include those of Tanaka Chivanga, Brad Evans, Victor Nyauchi, Ernest Masuku, Richmond Mutumbami, Tony Munyonga, and Brandon Mavuta.
In their place, the selectors have picked Clive Madande, Blessing Muzarabani, Dion Myers and Ainsley Ndlovu. Those four were part of the just concluded ODIs against Afghanistan, but only Muzarabani and Myers got games.
While Madande is uncapped in international cricket and toured Nepal last month with the Zimbabwe A squad, Ndlovu has played international cricket in all three formats but has not represented Zimbabwe since February 2020. His last T20I was in September 2019 in a tri-series involving Afghanistan and Bangladesh. Muzarabani's last T20I came in September 2021, after which he played in the PSL for Multan Sultans and was picked as a net bowler by Lucknow Super Giants in the recent IPL. He was Zimbabwe's highest wicket-taker in the recent ODIs, with seven wickets from three games.
The three T20Is will be played in Harare on June 11, 12 and 14.
T20I squad: Craig Ervine (capt), Ryan Burl, Regis Chakabva, Tendai Chatara, Luke Jongwe, Innocent Kaia, Clive Madande, Wessly Madhevere, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Blessing Muzarabani, Dion Myers, Ainsley Ndlovu, Sikandar Raza, Milton Shumba, Donald Tiripano.