HE is of Pakistani descent, born in Belgium and plies his trade in his recently-christened adopted country, Zimbabwe.
And after finally meeting the ICC eligibility criteria to represent Zimbabwe, Antum Naqvi has been called up for the two-Test series against Afghanistan, which begins today.
The 27-year-old all-rounder was one of the notable names as Zimbabwe Cricket announced their 15-member squad for the two Tests slated for November 5-9 and 13-17 in the United Arab Emirates.
Naqvi, who has been playing in Zimbabwe since 2023, is a highly rated player who has a batting average of 60.35 and was the first player to score a triple-century for any team in Zimbabwe, when he made an unbeaten 300 for the Mid-West Rhinos against the Tuskers in 2024.
He has a total of six first-class hundreds and eight fifties to his name from 24 matches and has also taken 62 wickets.
Also of note is the exclusion of Sikandar Raza, who appears to be winding down his Test career.
With Raza and One Day Internationals and Tests skipper Richard Ngarava also not in the squad, 22-year-old opener Brian Bennett will lead Zimbabwe in the two matches.
Ngarava is set to continue to recover from a back problem and was earlier reported to be unavailable for the rest of the year.
Bennett has an experienced batting line-up under his command, including former captains Craig Ervine and Brendan Taylor, while Ben Curran, Innocent Kaia and Tadiwanashe Marumani are all expected to feature in the series.
The bowling department has been the most affected, with Tanaka Chivanga also out with injury.
However, Blessing Muzarabani is expected to be fit, fresh and ready after being rested for most of the T20 series, and he will find support from the likes of Brad Evans, Newman Nyamhuri, Kundai Matigimu, who has played one Test, and the uncapped Ernest Masuku.
Leg-spinner Graeme Cremer, the third 40-year-old in the side after Ervine and Taylor, has been recalled.
Cremer has not played a Test in almost nine years after last featuring for Zimbabwe in a day-night Test in South Africa in December 2017, but has been part of Zimbabwe’s recent white-ball sides and has experience in the UAE, where he lived for several years. Cremer, Vincent Masek-esa, Wellington Masakadza and Naqvi make up the spin options.
However, the inclusion of Naqvi is expected to be the biggest talking point heading into the series, giving Chevrons head coach Justin Sammons a lot to ponder over heading into the first Test which begins this morning.
Naqvi, who is of Pakistani heritage and has also lived in Australia, was originally called up by Zimbabwe in July 2024 for a T20I series against India, but his participation was subject to his passport status.
At the time, he had applied for naturalisation in Zimbabwe.
He was then called up again to play a Test against Afghanistan in October 2025 but, again, had not received the required paperwork.
As recently as June this year, Zimbabwe Cricket were still waiting for confirmation that he could represent Zimbabwe. They only confirmed the news yesterday.
The two Tests offer Zimbabwe a chance at redemption after what has been a disastrous tour to the Middle East so far.
The tour included an ODI triangular series alongside Bangladesh and hosts Afghanistan.
While Zimbabwe did make the final, finishing with the solitary 99-run win over Bangladesh, they lost both their matches against Afghanistan by 158 runs and seven wickets in the final.
The wins further exposed the gap that currently exists between the two nations, with the Asians carrying 22 wins as compared to Zimbabwe’s 10 from 33 matches in the format.
It only got worse for the Chevrons as Afghanistan cruised to a three-nil drubbing in the three-match T20 series.
The two nations have met a total of 24 times in the format, with Afghanistan winning 22 as compared to Zimbabwe’s two victories.
In the Test arena, however, the scales are evenly balanced, with both countries enjoying two wins and one draw in their five clashes.
Redemption and glory are not the only motivations heading into the series, as there is also the World Test Championship (WTC).
There remains a possibility that a series between these two teams (and Ireland) could have con-sequences for the World Test Championship (WTC) points table, with the competition’s expansion set for discussion at the ICC meetings next weekend.
Zimbabwe, in particular, are pushing for a place in the elite club and see it as their responsibility as full members to champion the longest format, even if it is a financial strain.
In 2025, they played ten Tests to show their commitment to the cause, but they have only had one in 2026, with two more scheduled against Afghanistan.
By contrast, Afghanistan have only played 14 Tests in their history but have never played more in a calendar year than in 2026.
This series will take them to four Tests this year. And competitive game time will be of paramount importance for both countries, a point both Chevrons gaffer Justin Sammons and stand-in skipper Bennett have expressed.
Zimbabwe Test Squad
Brian Bennett (capt), Antum Naqvi, Ben Curran, Blessing Muzarabani, Brad Evans, Brendan Tay-lor, Craig Ervine, Graeme Cremer, Innocent Kaia, Ernest Masuku, Kundai Matigimu, Newman Nyamhuri, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Tafadzwa Tsiga, Vincent Masekesa, Wellington Masakadza, Wessly Madhevere. — Zimpapers Sports Hub/Wires
