Raza to captain Zimbabwe across white-ball formats in UAE

Sikandar Raza has been named Zimbabwe’s captain for both white-ball formats on the team’s upcoming tour of the United Arab Emirates, which will include an ODI tri-series against Bangladesh and Afghanistan before a three-match T20I series against Afghanistan. Raza will lead the ODI side in the absence of Richard Ngarava, who remains sidelined while recovering from a back injury. Zimbabwe’s squad largely mirrors the group that recently faced Australia, with Tafadzwa Tsiga and Vincent Masekesa added and both in contention for international white-ball debuts.

The touring party combines experienced names such as Raza, Craig Ervine and Brendan Taylor with younger players including Ben Curran, Brian Bennett and Tadiwanashe Marumani. Fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani is expected to spearhead the pace attack throughout the tour. Zimbabwe open their ODI tri-series campaign against Bangladesh on October 17, with the month-long assignment concluding after two Test matches against Afghanistan in November.