Zimbabwe announced its squad for the warm-up match against South Africa, set to commence on June 3. The team will be without Sikandar Raza, Blessing Muzarabani, and Richard Ngarava. Brian Bennett, who recently scored a record-breaking century against England, is retained. New players will fill in for the absentees, as both teams prepare not just for this match but for their upcoming respective series.
Zimbabwe’s cricket team has announced its 15-member squad for the warm-up match against South Africa, scheduled to start on Tuesday, June 3, in Sussex. The Zimbabweans are currently in England following a historic Test match against the hosts, and they offered to assist South Africa as the latter prepares for the World Test Championship (WTC) final. Unfortunately, Zimbabwe will be missing three key players: Sikandar Raza, Blessing Muzarabani, and Richard Ngarava.
Muzarabani is in India for the playoffs with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), while Raza is gearing up for the Major League Cricket (MLC). Ngarava has been rested, likely to manage fatigue. Despite these absences, Brian Bennett remains in the squad after his remarkable performance against England, where he scored Zimbabwe’s fastest-ever century in Test cricket.
“The team includes Brian Bennett, the 21-year-old opening batter who grabbed headlines with a record-breaking performance against England,” an official statement from Zimbabwe Cricket noted. “However, the team will be without three regulars – all-rounder Sikandar Raza and the pace duo of Blessing Muzarabani and Richard Ngarava – who are unavailable for this match.”
To fill their places in the squad, Zimbabwe has brought in Tanunurwa Makoni, Vincent Masekesa, and Alex Falao, all of whom are being recognized for their impressive domestic and international performance. This warm-up game serves a dual purpose: aiding South Africa’s preparations for their upcoming clash against Australia in the WTC Final while also setting the stage for a two-match Test series between the nations that will follow.
As South Africa welcomes back players from the IPL, they are expected to field a nearly full-strength side, aiming to smooth out any rough edges before the WTC Final. With both teams eyeing their respective goals, this warm-up match carries significant implications for the upcoming cricket calendar.
Here’s Zimbabwe’s squad for the warm-up game: Craig Ervine (c), Brian Bennett, Tanaka Chivanga, Ben Curran, Alex Falao, Clive Madande, Wessly Madhevere, Tanunurwa Makoni, Wellington Masakadza, Vincent Masekesa, Newman Nyamhuri, Victor Nyauchi, Tafadzwa Tsiga, Nicholas Welch, Sean Williams.
In summary, Zimbabwe’s cricket team is gearing up for a crucial warm-up match against South Africa, despite the absence of three key players. The inclusion of youngsters like Brian Bennett and others reflects the team’s ongoing development. This match isn’t just a friendly; it’s a strategic move that supports South Africa while preparing for tougher contests ahead, notably the WTC Final and subsequent Test series.
Original Source: www.indiatvnews.com
