Sikandar Raza returns as Zimbabwe announce squad for Afghanistan Tests

The Zimbabwe cricket senior selection committee on December 19 (Thursday), named Sikandar Raza in the 17-man Zimbabwe squad for a two-Test series against Afghanistan. 

Raza, who has featured in 17 Tests for the Chevrons having made his debut in 2013 against Pakistan, last played the red-ball format in 2021. His last Test was against Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi, where he scored a fifty and also picked a wicket.

Apart from him, the Zimbabwean team have seven uncapped player,s including their recent recruit, England-born Ben Curran, the middle brother of England internationals Tom and Sam Curran. 

Among the other uncapped players are - Jonathan Campbell, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Nyasha Mayavo, Trevor Gwandu, Takudzwa Chataira and Newman Nyamhuri. 

Along with Raza, the other seniors in the team include Sean Williams, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava and skipper Craig Ervine. Brian Bennett, Joylord Gumbie, Dion Myers, Takudzwanashe Kaitano and Brandon Mavuta are the other five members of the squad. 

The two Tests - the Boxing Day game and the New Year’s match will begin on December 26 and January 2nd, respectively, at the Queens’ Sports Club, Bulawayo. This will be the first Boxing Day Test in Zimbabwe since 1996 and the first-ever New Year’s Test in their history. 

Zimbabwe Test squad: Craig Ervine (c), Ben Curran, Brian Bennett, Johnathan Campbell, Takudzwa Chataira, Joylord Gumbie, Trevor Gwandu, Takudzwanashe Kaitano, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Brandon Mavuta, Nyasha Mayavo, Blessing Muzarabani, Dion Myers, Richard Ngarava, Newman Nyamhuri, Sikandar Raza, Sean Williams.