FEATURES
Follow UsCraig Ervine (38) and Sean Williams (37) are not part of the upcoming T20 International (T20I) series against India. However, Sikandar Raza, who just turned 38 in April, will lead them. There was no place even for Ryan Burl (30), who led them in a game against Ireland last year.
It was under Raza that Zimbabwe failed to qualify for the T20 World Cup 2024, including defeats to Namibia and Uganda in the African Qualifiers. In the aftermath, Dave Houghton stepped down as coach of the national side, paving the way for Justin Sammons to take over the scraps. Former Zimbabwe batter Dion Ebrahim is set to serve as his assistant.
It is also important to note that Zimbabwe have not secured automatic qualification for the T20 World Cup 2026, which is set to be played in India and Sri Lanka. They will once again have to play the African Qualifiers to have a crack at making it through. However, as co-hosts, they have already secured an automatic qualification for the One-Day International (ODI) World Cup, which comes as a massive relief given they failed to do so in 2019 and 2023.
However, the upcoming series against India marks a new dawn in their history, and their focus will be on ensuring that they play the marquee event in 2026. They have included a few new faces in their 17-member squad, who could play a significant part in pushing their case for a place in the T20 World Cup and beyond.
Let’s look at some of them:
Johnathan Campbell
T20Is: Matches 4, Runs 105, Ave 35, SR 150
Son of former Zimbabwe captain Alastair Campbell, Johnathan made his T20I debut against Bangladesh in May and made an impact right away, smashing 45 off 24, coming in at seven to give his side a fighting total. He managed to score 21 (10), 31 (27) and 8* (9) in the remaining three matches.
While Zimbabwe certainly lost the five-match series 4-1, they have found a player who could serve the Chevrons for a long time. The southpaw is also a handy leg spinner, having taken 76 competitive wickets so far, but is yet to roll his arm over in T20Is. Will we see him rattle India with it?
Antum Naqvi
T20s: Matches 7, Runs 138, Ave 34.50, SR 146.80; Wkts 9, Econ 6.38
Belgium to Zimbabwe via Australia: That would be a good title for Antum Naqvi’s book if it ever comes out. His cricket career, though, began in Australia when his family moved there when he was four. He met Zimbabwe cricketer Solomon Mire, who encouraged Naqvi to play cricket in Zimbabwe. He ended his five-year cricketing career in Australia in 2019 and made his debut for Rhinos in 2023.
Naqvi has already turned a few heads during his brief stint with Zimbabwe Cricket. He scored tons in his first and second first-class games and, in January this year, became the first player in Zimbabwean cricket history to score a triple ton.
However, he has played just seven T20s and has proved to be handy with the bat and ball.
Faraz Akram
T20Is: Matches 7, Runs 60, Ave 30, SR 133.33; Wkts 2, Econ 10.36
Faraz Akram has been racking up runs and wickets in the domestic circuit and has shown glimpses of what he brings to the table in his limited opportunities in his seven T20Is and a couple of ODIs since making his debut in 2020.
The 30-year-old, who is only the second Pakistani-origin cricketer to represent Zimbabwe, will hope that he can deliver with his medium-pace bowling and also whack a few down the order as he showed against Bangladesh when he smacked 34* off 19 coming in at 10.
Dion Myers
T20Is: Matches 8, Runs 139, Ave 17.37, SR 119.82
At 22, Dion Myers has played all three formats for Zimbabwe since making his debut in 2021. However, he has not played for the Cheverons since 2022. However, he comes into the series against India at the back of scoring at least one fifty in each of his five first-class matches for the Mountaineers.
Overall, his T20 record does not induce much confidence, as he has slammed just 251 runs in 13 innings at a strike rate of 121.84, but Zimbabwe may give him a go as he could potentially be a long-term prospect for them, improving over time.
Brian Bennett
T20Is: Matches 11, Runs 227, Ave 25.22, SR 134.31; Wkts 5, Econ 6.75
The youngest in the squad, Brian Bennett’s potential was there for the world to see when he finished as Zimbabwe’s leading run-getter in the 2022 Under-19 World Cup in the Caribbean. Since then, he has gone on to make 11 T20I appearances for Zimbabwe since 2023, including a superb 49-ball 70 opening the batting. Before that, he picked up 2/20 with his off-breaks.
Safe to say he is just getting started.
If you’ve not downloaded the Cricket.com app yet, you’re missing out — big time. Play Fantasy on Cricket.com NOW! Download the App here.
