Zimbabwe squads for Ireland clash announced; Sikandar Raza dents a massive blow

Zimbabwe Cricket announced the squads for the upcoming multi-format series against Ireland on Friday (January 24). The Zimbabwe National Cricket Team is all set to host the Ireland National Cricket Team in a one-off Test, three ODIs, and as many T20Is next month.

However, the hosts will be without their star all-rounder, Sikandar Raza, for their one-off Test match against Ireland, which is set to be played from February 6 at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo.

Sikandar Raza to miss one-off Test against Ireland at home

Zimbabwe Cricket confirmed Sikandar Raza’s unavailability for the one-off Test while revealing the squads for the upcoming multi-format home series. The franchise cricket commitment is the reason behind Raza’s absence from the Ireland Test.

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The T20I captain of the hosts is currently leading Dubai Capitals in the UAE’s ongoing International League T20 2025 (ILT20 2025). However, Raza will be available for the white-ball series against Ireland.

Notably, the hosts and the Ireland National Cricket Team will play three ODI matches on February 14, 16, and 18, followed by three T20Is on February 22, 23, and 25, respectively. All six white-ball matches of Ireland's tour of Zimbabwe will be held at the Harare Sports Club in Harare.

Several fresh faces named in the T20I and ODI squads

Meanwhile, the hosts received a major boost ahead of the Ireland series, as their seasoned allrounder Sean Williams declared fit for the home assignments. The 38-year-old, who had been dealing with a back injury, was declared fit for both the one-off Test and the ODI series.

However, the star all-rounder Sikandar Raza will return to lead the hosts in the three-match T20I series against the Irish side at home. Well, the Zimbabwe selectors have dropped Dion Myers and Tadiwanashe Marumani from the Test squad and handed the maiden call-ups to the uncapped leg-spinner Vincent Masekesa and uncapped batter Nicholas Welch.

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However, Dion Myers has found a spot in Zimbabwe’s squad for the T20I series but has been dropped from the ODI squad as well. Additionally, Joylord Gumbie has also been dropped. Wessly Madhevere and Nyasha Mayavo have been added to the ODI squad in place of Joylord Gumbie and Dion Myers for the upcoming home series against the Ireland team.

Here are the Zimbabwe squads for the Ireland series:

Test squad: Craig Ervine (C), Trevor Gwandu, Takudzwanashe Kaitano, Vincent Masekesa, Nyasha Mayavo, Blessing Muzarabani, Brian Bennett, Johnathan Campbell, Ben Curran, Joylord Gumbie, Richard Ngarava, Newman Nyamhuri, Sean Williams, Victor Nyauchi, Nicholas Welch.

ODI squad: Craig Ervine (C), Brian Bennett, Johnathan Campbell, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Wellington Masakadza, Nyasha Mayavo, Ben Curran, Trevor Gwandu, Wessly Madhevere, Tinotenda Maposa, Blessing Muzarabani, Sikandar Raza, Richard Ngarava, Newman Nyamhuri, Sean Williams.

T20I squad: Sikandar Raza (C), Tinotenda Maposa, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Wellington Masakadza, Nyasha Mayavo, Tony Munyonga, Brian Bennett, Ryan Burl, Johnathan Campbell, Trevor Gwandu, Wessly Madhevere, Tashinga Musekiwa, Dion Myers, Richard Ngarava, Newman Nyamhuri, Blessing Muzarabani.

Notably, the Zimbabwe team recently drew the one-off Test and lost the ODI series 2-0 to Afghanistan, and now they would be hoping to make a strong comeback at home in the upcoming multi-format series against Ireland.