Tag: Zimbabwe

HARARE: Zimbabwe have named a 15-member squad for the T20I tri-series against Pakistan and Sri Lanka, with pacer Blessing Muzarabani ruled out due to an injury.

The squad has only one change from the one that played Afghanistan in a three-match home T20I series earlier this month.

Muzarabani, who is ruled out due to a back injury, has been replaced by uncapped pacer Newman Nyamhuri, Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) confirmed in a statement.

“The only change from the squad that recently faced Afghanistan at home sees pace spearhead Blessing Muzarabani miss out due to a back injury, with Newman Nyamhuri coming in as his replacement,” the statement read.

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Sikandar Raza will continue to lead the side in a series that could provide ample opportunity for the teams to prepare for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. The side also includes seasoned campaigners like Ryan Burl, Wellington Masakadza, and Brendan Taylor.

The tri-series will commence on November 17 at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium with hosts Pakistan taking on Zimbabwe. The final of the series will be played on November 29 at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.

Zimbabwe squad for T20I Tri-series in Pakistan

Sikandar Raza (c), Brian Bennett, Ryan Burl, Graeme Cremer, Bradley Evans, Clive Madande, Tinotenda Maposa, Wellington Masakadza, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Tony Munyonga, Tashinga Musekiwa, Dion Myers, Richard Ngarava, Newman Nyamhuri, and Brendan Taylor.

T20I Tri-Series Fixtures:

17 November – Pakistan vs Zimbabwe, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi
19 November – Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi
22 November – Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
23 November – Pakistan vs Zimbabwe, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
25 November – Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
27 November – Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
29 November – Final, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

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Spinner Rashid Khan and batter Ibrahim Zadran starred as Afghanistan beat Zimbabwe by seven wickets on Friday to clinch a three-match Twenty20 series with a game to spare.

Zimbabwe won the toss, batted, and were all out for 125 at Harare Sports Club. Afghanistan then reached 129-3 with 12 balls remaining.

After suffering a heavy loss in a one-off Test, the tourists had won the first T20 by 53 runs on Wednesday. The dead rubber T20 will be played on Sunday.

Khan took 3-9, including the wicket of rival captain Sikandar Raza, who top-scored for Zimbabwe with 37 off 32 balls, including four fours.

Raza was caught and bowled as he struggled to deal with a delivery aimed at off stump, striking the ball straight to the 27-year-old Afghan skipper.

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Khan struck again three balls later in the 16th over, as his googly led to Tashinga Musekiwa (13) being caught by Mohammad Nabi at long on.

The 24-run sixth-wicket partnership of Raza and Musekiwa was the best for Zimbabwe, who struggled after the failures of top-order pair Dion Myers (six) and Brendan Taylor (three).

Brad Evans (12) was Khan’s other victim, trapped leg before as he attempted a sweep with Zimbabwe desperately seeking runs late in the innings.

For the second straight T20, Zadran top-scored for Afghanistan, hitting an unbeaten 57 for his 12th T20 half-century after 52 runs on Wednesday. His 51-ball stand included seven fours.

It was left to fourth-wicket partner Azmatullah Omarzai to hit the match and series-winning four past long off.

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Spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman took four wickets and quick Azmatullah Omarzai three as Afghanistan beat Zimbabwe by 53 runs on Wednesday to take a 1-0 lead in a three-match Twenty20 series.

The tourists won the toss at Harare Sports Club, opted to bat and posted 180-6 with openers Ibrahim Zadran (52) and Rahmanullah Gurbaz (39) the chief contributors.

Zimbabwe plunged to 30-5 after five overs in reply and were all out for 127 with lower-order Tinotenda Maposa (32) the top scorer.

Gurbaz hit a six and six fours as he put on 76 runs with Zadran for the first wicket before a top edge off a Sikandar Raza delivery saw him caught in the covers by Tadiwanashe Marumani.

A poor stroke from Zadran led to a catch by Ryan Burl at deep mid-wicket after a 33-ball knock that included a six and six fours.

The off-spin of 39-year-old captain Raza brought him 3-20, and quick Blessing Muzarabani took 2-41 for the home side.

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An Afghan assault saw three of the first five Zimbabwe batters out for ducks and another for one. Opener Brian Bennett (24) was the exception, striking a six and three fours off 15 balls.

Chasing a lost cause, Brad Evans (24) and Maposa offered resistance before becoming victims of Mujeeb (4-20).

Omarzai (3-29) had inflicted considerable damage earlier, capturing the wickets of Bennett and Raza (one).

The teams meet again on Friday and Sunday as they prepare for the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka next February and March.

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Former Zimbabwe captain Graeme Cremer will wear the national colors again after nearly seven years, as he has been recalled for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Afghanistan, starting October 29 in Harare.

Cremer, who last represented Zimbabwe in 2018, had stepped away from cricket to pursue a professional career in golf and relocated to the UAE, where his wife works as an airline pilot.

However, the veteran spinner recently returned home and reignited his cricketing ambitions through local club competitions, a move that has now paved the way for his international comeback.

The Zimbabwe selectors have rewarded Cremer’s persistence, drafting him into a largely unchanged 15-member squad that went unbeaten through the ICC Africa Regional Qualifiers earlier this year.

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He replaces fast bowler Trevor Gwandu in the lineup, as Zimbabwe continue preparations for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026.

All-rounder Sean Williams remains unavailable due to personal reasons, Zimbabwe Cricket confirmed.

The series against Afghanistan will be played entirely at the Harare Sports Club, which also hosted the one-off Test earlier in the tour.

The T20Is are scheduled for October 29, 31, and November 2.

Zimbabwe squad for Afghanistan T20Is

Sikandar Raza (c), Brian Bennett, Ryan Burl, Graeme Cremer, Brad Evans, Clive Madande, Tinotenda Maposa, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Wellington Masakadza, Tony Munyonga, Tashinga Musekiwa, Blessing Muzarabani, Dion Myers, Richard Ngarava, Brendan Taylor.

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DUBAI: Afghanistan have been fined 25 percent of their match fee for maintaining a slow over-rate during the one-off Test against Zimbabwe in Harare, the International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed on Thursday.

The sanction was imposed by Richie Richardson of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees after Afghanistan were found to be five overs short of their target, even after taking allowances into account.

According to Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, players are fined five percent of their match fee for each over their side fails to bowl within the allotted time.

The charge was laid by on-field umpires Adrian Holdstock and Nitin Menon, with Forster Mutizwa serving as third umpire and Percival Sizara as fourth.

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Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi accepted the sanction, which means no formal hearing was required.

The match itself ended on a high note for Zimbabwe, who recorded their first home Test victory in over a decade, their first since 2013, defeating Afghanistan by an innings and 73 runs.

It was a comprehensive all-round display from the hosts, marking a memorable return to red-ball success.

Following the Test, the two sides will now turn their attention to the T20I series, with three matches scheduled at the same venue from October 29 to November 2.

Historically, Afghanistan have dominated Zimbabwe in the shortest format, winning 16 of their 18 encounters, while Zimbabwe have managed just two victories.

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Zimbabwe won a Test by an innings for only the third time when they defeated Afghanistan by an innings and 73 runs at Harare Sports Club on Wednesday, with two days to spare.

Afghanistan batted after Zimbabwe won the toss and were all out for 127. Zimbabwe made 359 in reply, with Ben Curran hitting a maiden century, giving the hosts a 232-run first innings lead.

Curran won the player of the match award for his 121 runs, which swung the one-off Test decisively in favour of the hosts on the second day.

The tourists’ batters struggled again in their second innings and were dismissed for 159, with only Ibrahim Zadran (42) and middle-order Bahir Shah (32) having some success.

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Brad Evans took five wickets in the first Afghan innings, and the second time round it was the turn of Richard Ngarava (5-37) to sparkle as the quick claimed his first Test five-for.

Zimbabwe beat Pakistan by an innings in 1995 in Harare and repeated the feat against Bangladesh six years later in Bulawayo.

It was the first Test victory by Zimbabwe in Harare since 2013, when they beat Pakistan by 24 runs in a thriller.

The sole positive for Afghanistan, who beat Zimbabwe 1-0 in a two-Test series last January, was the performance of debutant seamer Ziaur Rahman, who captured seven wickets.

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HARARE: Brian Bennett’s brisk half-century powered Zimbabwe into the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 after a comprehensive seven-wicket victory over Kenya in the second semi-final of the Africa qualifiers here at the Harare Sports Club. 

With this win, Zimbabwe became the second team from the qualifiers after Namibia to advance through to the mega event set to be held in Sri Lanka and India next year.

Earlier, Namibia defeated Tanzania in the first semi-final to book a spot in the next year’s T20 World Cup.

Kenya chose to bat first but could only muster 122 runs for 6 wickets in their 20 overs, despite a commendable half-century from top-order batter Rakep Patel.

Patel led the scoring with 65 runs off 47 balls, featuring eight fours and one six.

Other notable contributions included Sachin Gill with 19 runs, Jasraj Kundi with 13, and Pushkar Sharma with 11, but they struggled against a clinical Zimbabwean bowling attack.

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Blessing Muzarabani was the standout bowler for Zimbabwe, finishing with impressive figures of 2 wickets for 19 runs in four overs.

He received support from Richard Ngarava, Tinotenda Maposa, and Brad Evans, each taking one wicket.

In reply, Zimbabwe easily chased down the 123-run target, losing only three wickets and finishing with 30 balls remaining.

Brian Bennett was the top scorer for the home team, blasting 51 runs off just 25 balls, including eight fours and two sixes.

He partnered well with fellow opener Tadiwanashe Marumani, who added 39 runs off 27 balls with five boundaries.

For Kenya, Vraj Patel claimed two wickets, while Dhiren Gondaria took one.

Zimbabwe and Namibia will now play for the top spot in the qualifiers in the final on Saturday, 4 October, at the same venue.

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An unbeaten 73 from Kamil Mishara led Sri Lanka to an eight-wicket victory over Zimbabwe in Harare on Sunday to win their T20I series 2-1.

Put in to bat after losing the toss, Zimbabwe made 191-8 but Sri Lanka cruised to the target with 14 balls to spare.

Mishara and Kusal Perera put on 117 runs in an unbeaten third-wicket stand as Sri Lanka completed a white-ball double, having won the preceding One-Day International (ODI) series against Zimbabwe 2-0.

Having scored just 35 runs in four previous T20I innings, 24-year-old Mishara made his mark with a match-winning knock, hitting three sixes and six fours from the 43 balls he faced.

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“It is a privilege to win a game for my country, I just feel very good,” said Kamil Mishara.

“There was pressure, of course, but the coaching staff just told me to play my normal game. I just wanted to get into my rhythm and then played my normal game.”

Mishara and veteran Perera came together with Sri Lanka 76-2 after 7.1 overs and took control as Sri Lanka put a nightmare 80 all out in the second match on Saturday behind them.

Perera scored as briskly as Mishara, with his unbeaten 46 coming off 26 deliveries. His innings included two sixes and four fours.

Wicketkeeper Tadiwanashe Marumani top scored for Zimbabwe with 51 off 44 balls before being stumped by Mendis off a googly from leg-spinner Dushan Hemantha.

Hemantha (3-38) also took the wickets of Sean Williams (23) and home captain Sikandar Raza (28).

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HARARE: Sri Lanka’s left-arm quick Dilshan Madushanka carved his name into the record books on Friday, becoming only the eighth Sri Lankan to claim an ODI hat-trick, a feat previously achieved by legends like Chaminda Vaas and Lasith Malinga.

The 24-year-old produced the magic in the final over of Zimbabwe’s chase during the first ODI, with the hosts needing 10 runs for victory.

Madushanka removed Sikandar Raza for a fighting 92 on the first ball, before trapping Brad Evans and Richard Ngarava for successive golden ducks to seal the contest.

His heroics swung the game in Sri Lanka’s favour as they secured a thrilling seven-run win against Zimbabwe while defending their 298-run total.

Madushanka finished with 4/62 in his 10 overs and was named Player of the Match for his match-winning spell.

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“It’s been a long time since I’ve been with the team, so I’m just very happy to do this on my comeback. We executed our plans at the death, and I’m delighted it worked out,” Madushanka said afterwards.

With this, Madushanka became the 46th bowler overall to register an ODI hat-trick. He now joins an illustrious Sri Lankan list that includes:

• Chaminda Vaas (vs Zimbabwe, 2001 & Bangladesh, 2003)
• Lasith Malinga (vs South Africa, 2007; Kenya, 2011; Australia, 2011)
• Farveez Maharoof (vs India, 2010)
• Thisara Perera (vs Pakistan, 2012)
• Wanindu Hasaranga (vs Zimbabwe, 2017)
• Shehan Madushanka (vs Bangladesh, 2018)
• Maheesh Theekshana (vs New Zealand, 2025)
• Dilshan Madushanka (vs Zimbabwe, 2025)

Notably, Vaas remains the only Sri Lankan to have claimed two ODI hat-tricks, while Malinga stands alone as the only bowler in world cricket with three.

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Dilshan Madushanka took a last-over hat-trick to snatch Sri Lanka a thrilling seven-run victory over Zimbabwe in Harare on Friday in the first of two one-day internationals.

Zimbabwe were well set with Sikandar Raza, on 92, on strike, as they needed 10 runs off the final six balls with five wickets in hand.

But left-arm seamer Madushanka emerged as the hero for Sri Lanka, bowling Raza off the first ball of the final over, then dismissing Brad Evans and Richard Ngarava from his next two deliveries.

Raza had his middle stump uprooted attempting a sweep, Evans was caught at short fine leg by Asitha Fernando, and Ngarava was also clean bowled.

“I am just so happy to do this on my comeback. Very happy that we executed our collective plans at the death,” said Madushanka, who held his nerve with the last three balls to close out the win.

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Zimbabwe won the toss and Sri Lanka posted 298-6 batting first courtesy of a late barrage of boundaries.

The second ODI is on Sunday at the same venue.

Sri Lanka recovered from losing opener Nishan Madushka for a duck as Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis (38) put on 100 runs for the second wicket.

Nissanka top scored with 76 and, further down the order, Janith Liyanage struck an unbeaten 70 off just 47 balls.

Kamindu Mendis also provided some late-order impetus with a 36-ball 57 before being bowled by Ngarava from the final ball of the innings.

Left-arm quick Ngarava (2-34) was the lone Zimbabwe bowler to take more than one wicket at Harare Sports Club.

The home team’s reply began disastrously with Brian Bennett and Brendan Taylor both falling to Fernando in the first over, leaving Zimbabwe 0-2 after just four balls.

Taylor was making his first ODI appearance since 2021 after bans for breaching anti-corruption rules and for failing a drugs test.

But half-centuries from Ben Curran (70) and Sean Williams (57) dragged Zimbabwe back into contention before they slipped to 161-5.

But Raza combined with Tony Munyonga in a brilliant 128-run stand to take the Africans to the brink of victory.

Raza’s 92 came off 87 balls and included eight fours.

When he was dismissed by Madushanka, Munyonga was left stranded at the non-striker’s end until the penultimate ball and finished 43 not out.

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