Zimbabwe squad for India T20Is announced, batsman of Pakistani descent included

Zimbabwe, on Monday (July 1), announced their squad for the upcoming T20I series against India. The African country will be hosting the newly-crowned T20 world champions this month.

The hosts have provisionally named Belgian-born batsman Antum Naqvi in the squad although his participation in the series will depend on the confirmation of his citizenship status. The 25-year-old was born to Pakistani parents in Belgium before moving to Australia. He was later considered for selection after expressing his desire to represent Zimbabwe in international cricket.

Naqvi applied for naturalization and has already plied his trade for Rhinos in Zimbabwe's domestic circuit. He has a strike rate of more than 146 in T20Is and has impressed in List A and first-class cricket as well where he averages 73.42 and 72.00 respectively. In 8 List A games, he has hit 3 centuries and one fifty while in 10 first-class matches, Naqvi has hit 4 centuries.

Zimbabwe squad for India T20Is:

After failing to qualify for the recently concluded ICC T20 World Cup 2024, Zimbabwe have named a youthful side as they look to rebuild the team. At 38, captain Sikandar Raza is the most experienced player in the squad. 

The hosts have also recalled the likes of Tendai Chatara alongside Wessly Madhevere, Brandon Mavuta, Dion Myers, Innocent Kaia, and Milton Shumba for the five-match series. They have dropped five players from the squad that featured in Zimbabwe's last T20I assignment which was the away series in Bangladesh.

While Clive Madande, Brian Bennett, Johnathan Campbell, Wellington Masakadza, Tadiwanashe Marumani, and Faraz Akram have retained their spots in the squad, Craig Ervine, Sean Williams, Ryan Burl, Joylord Gumbie and Ainsley Ndlovu have been dropped. Zimbabwe Cricket has stated that Ervine and Williams were not considered for selection while the other three could not make the cut.

Meanwhile, the series is scheduled to be played from July 6 to 14. All the games will be played at the Harare Sports Club. Shubman Gill will be leading the Indian team in the series.

Zimbabwe squad for India series:

Raza Sikandar (captain), Akram Faraz, Bennett Brian, Campbell Johnathan, Chatara Tendai, Jongwe Luke, Kaia Innocent, Madande Clive, Madhevere Wessly, Marumani Tadiwanashe, Masakadza Wellington, Mavuta Brandon, Muzarabani Blessing, Myers Dion, Naqvi Antum, Ngarava Richard, Shumba Milton