BY SPORTSCAST WRITER
HARARE – Zimbabwe has named a 15-man squad to face rivals Afghanistan in an important three-match ODI series, with senior player Sean Williams still missing from the side.
35-year-year-old batsman Williams didn’t feature in the recent T20I series with Namibia after he was granted compassionate leave following the death last month of his father Collin ‘Porge’ Williams, a former Zimbabwe hockey captain and first-class cricketer.
The three ODI matches are part of the ICC Cricket World Cup Super League, qualifiers for the World Cup in India next year.
They will be followed by the three T20Is, which forms part of the Men’s T20I Team Rankings.
But, for now, focus is on the ODIs, which get underway this Saturday with the rest taking place next Monday and Thursday.
Star fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani, meanwhile, returns to the side following his cameo role in the just-ended Indian Premier League (IPL) with Lucknow Super Giants.
There were places in the team for the pair of pace bowler Tanaka Chivanga and middle-order batsman Clive Madande, uncapped in this format.
Another interesting selection is that of former Zimbabwe Under-19 captain Dion Myers. The promising batsman, who opted out of a contract with Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) to pursue studies overseas, is currently back home on break from Royal Agriculture University in England.
Myers has been playing club cricket in the local league, scoring enough runs to be included in Zimbabwe’s ODI squad for the Afghanistan series.
Limited-overs captain Craig Ervine (pictured) leads the side.
SQUAD
Craig Ervine (captain), Ryan Burl, Regis Chakabva, Tendai Chatara, Tanaka Chivanga, Luke Jongwe, Tadiwanashe Kaitano, Clive Madande, Wessly Madhevere, Blessing Muzarabani, Dion Myers, Ainsley Ndlovu, Sikandar Raza, Milton Shumba, Donald Tiripano.
