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Zimbabwe's Sikandar Raza prioritises franchise league over Test against Ireland
Follow UsRaza was picked for only the second Test during a recent two-match Test series against Afghanistan
Sikandar Raza, one of the most prolific all-rounders Zimbabwe have ever produced, decided to prioritise franchise T20 leagues over playing Test cricket for his country.
Having already committed to the franchise league before announcing the all-format series against visiting side Ireland, Raza decided to finish his engagement in the league and then join the national side for the T20I and ODI legs of the series.
Ireland’s Zimbabwe tour will begin with a one-off Test in Bulawayo on February 6. The caravan will then move to Harare where all the limited-overs matches will be played, starting with the first ODI on February 14.
Raza, who was earlier named in the national squad for the two-Test series against Afghanistan, was picked only for the second one, replacing Brandon Mavuta. The 38-year-old has played 18 Tests along with 148 ODIs and 102 T20Is for the national team, having debuted in 2013.
Zimbabwe named two new faces in their Test squad for the one-off match. Leggie Vincent Masekesa and batter Nicholas Welch are the two new faces in the Chevrons’ red-ball squad.
Wessly Madhevere is back in ODIs and Nyasha Mayavo is a new entrant as Joylord Gumbie and Dion Mayers faced the axe. Myers also lost his Test spot along with Tadiwanashe Marumani but managed to remain a part of the T20I set-up.
Zimbabwe Squad for Ireland series
Test squad: Craig Ervine (C), Brian Bennett, Johnathan Campbell, Ben Curran, Joylord Gumbie, Trevor Gwandu, Takudzwanashe Kaitano, Vincent Masekesa, Nyasha Mayavo, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava, Newman Nyamhuri, Victor Nyauchi, Nicholas Welch, Sean Williams
ODI squad: Craig Ervine (C), Brian Bennett, Johnathan Campbell, Ben Curran, Trevor Gwandu, Wessly Madhevere, Tinotenda Maposa, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Wellington Masakadza, Nyasha Mayavo, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava, Newman Nyamhuri, Sikandar Raza, Sean Williams
T20I squad: Sikandar Raza (C), Brian Bennett, Ryan Burl, Johnathan Campbell, Trevor Gwandu, Wessly Madhevere, Tinotenda Maposa, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Wellington Masakadza, Nyasha Mayavo, Tony Munyonga, Tashinga Musekiwa, Blessing Muzarabani, Dion Myers, Richard Ngarava, Newman Nyamhuri
