Zimbabwe ODI squad for Sri Lanka series officially announced, Brendan Taylor returns

On Monday, August 25, Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) announced the 16-member squad of the Zimbabwe National Cricket Team for the upcoming ODI series against the Sri Lanka National Cricket Team.

Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) selection committee has added the veteran wicketkeeper-batsman and the former skipper, Brendan Taylor, to the ODI squad.

Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe to lock horns in two ODI matches

Sri Lanka will tour Zimbabwe for a white-ball series in August-September 2025. The tour consists of a two-match ODI series and a three-match T20I series.

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The series will start with an ODI match on Friday, August 29, and the second ODI game is scheduled to be held on Sunday, August 31.

After that, the action will shift towards the T20I matches, which will be played on Wednesday, September 3, Saturday, September 6, and Sunday, September 7.

Meanwhile, Brendan Taylor recently returned to Test cricket after serving a three-and-a-half-year ban for breaching the ICC's anti-corruption code.

And now he is in line to make his first ODI appearance since the match against Ireland in September 2021. He will be playing under the leadership of Craig Ervine, and the squad also consists of star players like Sean Williams, Sikandar Raza, Richard Ngarava, and Blessing Muzarabani.

Also, Clive Madande, Tony Munyonga, Brad Evans, and Ernest Masuku have been picked for the Sri Lanka series after missing the last ODI series against Ireland.

We are delighted to welcome Brendan back into the fold - David Mutendera

In an official statement released by ZC, Zimbabwe Convener of Selectors David Mutendera said that they are delighted to have Brendan Taylor back in the squad. He said:

“We are delighted to welcome Brendan back into the fold. His experience and quality are invaluable, especially in pressure situations, and his presence will no doubt lift the dressing room.

"This squad has been selected to give us the best chance against a strong Sri Lankan side. We have combined proven match-winners with players who are hungry to make their mark, and that mix of experience and energy will be crucial as we transition from red-ball cricket to the fast pace of ODIs.”

Meanwhile, the Chevrons' head coach Justin Sammons said that they would be hoping to bounce back after poor performances in the recent red-ball matches at home. He said:

“We’ve just come off a tough red-ball series, and now it’s about adjusting to the tempo and intensity of one-day cricket. Sri Lanka is a strong white-ball side and will punish any lapses, so we need to be sharp from ball one. Clarity in roles will be key – each player must understand exactly what’s required. Get that right, and I believe we can compete strongly against a very disciplined Sri Lankan outfit.”

Also, the skipper Craig Ervine highlighted the importance of being flexible and well-prepared to get results in their favour in the Sri Lanka series.

“Switching from red-ball to white-ball cricket is always a test, especially against a team of Sri Lanka’s calibre. We need to stay flexible, back our plans and make the most of our home conditions to compete strongly in both matches.”

Zimbabwe squad for ODI series vs Sri Lanka:

Craig Ervine (Captain), Brian Bennett, Johnathan Campbell, Ben Curran, Brad Evans, Trevor Gwandu, Wessly Madhevere, Clive Madande, Ernest Masuku, Tony Munyonga, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava, Newman Nyamhuri, Sikandar Raza, Brendan Taylor, Sean Williams

Also Read: "Mentally, it is...": Rohit Sharma’s emotional confession on Test cricket after retirement