Zimbabwe call up Belgium-born Antum Naqvi for India T20Is

Zimbabwe have named Belgium-born Antum Naqvi in their squad for the five-match T20I series against India, starting from July 6 (Saturday) in Harare. His participation in the series, however, is subject to confirmation of his citizenship status.

Tendai Chatara, Brandon Mavuta and Wessly Madhevere have been brought back, while there was no place for Ryan Burl, Joylord Gumbie, Ainsley Ndlovu, Craig Ervine and Sean Williams in the Sikandar Raza-led squad.

Naqvi was born to Pakistani parents in Brussels and plays for the Rhinos in Zimbabwe's domestic circuit. Earlier this year, the 25-year-old hit an unbeaten triple century in the Logan Cup. He has featured in only seven T20s, scoring 138 runs across five innings at an average of 34.50 and a strike rate of 146.80.

Dion Myers, Innocent Kaia and Milton Shumba are the other players who have been brought back, while Clive Madande, Brian Bennett, Johnathan Campbell, Wellington Masakadza, Tadiwanashe Marumani and Faraz Akram have been retained from the squad that played Bangladesh in April.

Zimbabwe, who had failed to qualify for the recently concluded T20 World Cup in the USA and the West Indies, will be playing their first series under head coach Justin Sammons. 

India, who won the 2024 T20 World Cup, have named a fairly young side for the Zimbabwe series. Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shivam Dube and Sanju Samson are the only players who were part of India's main squad.

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

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