BY SPORTSCAST WRITER
HARARE – Talisman Sikandar Raza has returned to the Zimbabwe team for the three-match ODI series against Ireland while veteran batter Chamu Chibhabha is re-called for the first time in two years.
Raza missed the T20I contest, won 2-1 by host Zimbabwe at Harare Sports Club. The two rivals will now square off in the 50-over matches on Wednesday, Saturday and Monday with the Irish aiming to return home with something in the bag.
36-year-old Chibhabha, who last played on a tour of Pakistan end of 2020, has been picked on his good domestic cricket form. He was dropped after that Pakistan tour following a sequence of dismal performances, and also lost his captaincy of the Zimbabwe side.
Meanwhile, senior Zimbabwe player Sean Williams is expected to be out of action for at least a month, which includes the forthcoming Test series against West Indies in Bulawayo in February.
The injury-prone batter didn’t play the last T20 against Ireland due to a niggle, which has now turned out to be more serious than initially thought.
Former ex-England matter Gary Ballance has, meanwhile, returned to the side following a mild concussion that saw him sit out of the last two T20s.
ZIMBABWE ODI SQUAD
Craig Ervine (captain), Gary Ballance, Ryan Burl, Tendai Chatara, Chamu Chibhabha, Brad Evans, Innocent Kaia, Clive Madande, Wessly Madhevere, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Wellington Masakadza, Brandon Mavuta, Richard Ngarava, Victor Nyauchi, Sikandar Raza.
