Zimbabwe confirmed their squad for a warm-up game against South Africa, missing three key players: Sikandar Raza, Blessing Muzarabani, and Richard Ngarava. The match is significant for South Africa as they prepare for the WTC final, while Zimbabwe aims to assess new talents in its team.
Zimbabwe has announced its 15-member squad for the warm-up match against South Africa, which begins on Tuesday, June 3, in Sussex. This follows their recent historic Test match against England, as they aid South Africa’s preparations ahead of the World Test Championship (WTC) final. Unfortunately, Zimbabwe will take the field without three significant players—Sikandar Raza, Blessing Muzarabani, and Richard Ngarava—due to various commitments.
Muzarabani is currently in India playing with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) as they compete in the playoffs. Raza is busy training for the upcoming Major League Cricket (MLC) season, while Ngarava has been given a break. However, Brian Bennett remains part of the team; he recently made news with a stunning century at Trent Bridge against England, marking a record-breaking moment for Zimbabwe.
“The team includes Brian Bennett, the 21-year-old opening batter who grabbed headlines with a record-breaking performance against England, registering Zimbabwe’s fastest-ever century in Test cricket,” said a statement from Zimbabwe Cricket. They also confirmed that Sikandar Raza, Blessing Muzarabani, and Richard Ngarava are unavailable, opening up spots for Tanunurwa Makoni, Vincent Masekesa, and Alex Falao, who have all shown impressive form in domestic and international matches.
This warm-up game serves a dual purpose. It assists South Africa in their preparations for the upcoming WTC final against Australia while also setting the stage for a subsequent two-match Test series between the two teams. South Africa is expected to field a strong side, as several players are returning from the Indian Premier League (IPL) to fine-tune their strategy before the crucial clash.
Here is Zimbabwe’s squad for the four-day 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, and Sean Williams.
In summary, Zimbabwe’s warm-up clash against South Africa comes with some setbacks as they will be missing three key players. Despite these absences, the squad still boasts talents like Brian Bennett. The match serves as a critical preparation for South Africa ahead of their final, while Zimbabwe looks to evaluate its younger players.
Original Source: www.indiatvnews.com
