Online Reporter
Brandon Moyo, Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWE Chevrons will face South Africa at Queens Sports Club without the services of Sikandar Raza and Victor Nyauchi.
The first Test against the Proteas, the newly crowned World Test Championship champions, will be played from June 28-July 2, followed by the second from July 6-10, promising a thrilling fortnight of high-quality red-ball cricket on home soil.
Raza is presently in the United States of America (USA), playing in the Major League Cricket for Seattle Orcas while Nyauchi was dropped for “tactical reasons,” with the head coach and convener of selectors not giving much detail.
In his last Test match out at Queens Sports Club, Nyauchi picked up a five wicket haul in the game against the West Indies in 2023.
Zimbabwe will be led by captain Craig Ervine as the hosts aim to build on the positives from their recent tour of England, where they featured in a landmark one-off Test at Trent Bridge.
Richard Ngarava (lower back injury) and Ben Curran (finger fracture) are also unavailable. Uncapped paceman Kundai Matigimu earns his maiden Test call-up, while Prince Masvaure and Takudzwanashe Kaitano return to bolster the top order.
Leg-spinner, Vincent Masekesa has also been recalled.
The pace attack is further strengthened by the return of Trevor Gwandu, who has recovered from the groin injury that ended his England tour prematurely.
All eyes will be on fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani, who leads the attack with renewed confidence after recently becoming the joint-fastest Zimbabwean to reach 50 Test wickets and joining Indian Premier Leagues (IPL) champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
In the middle order, experienced campaigner Sean Williams brings stability, while rising star Brian Bennett –— who smashed Zimbabwe’s fastest Test century at Trent Bridge — will be keen to continue his sparkling form against the Proteas.
With South Africa arriving in high spirits after their World Test Championship triumph over Australia at Lord’s, Zimbabwe will be eager to rise to the occasion in front of their passionate home fans in Bulawayo.
South Africa are expected to touch down in the City of Kings and Queens on June 24 and adding to the excitement, the first 50 fans at the ground will gain free entry.
Meanwhile, Queens Sports Club is set for a significant upgrade following the arrival of floodlights equipment.
The latest batch of the essential components for the installation arrived on Thursday morning from Harare.
This is part of Zimbabwe Cricket’s strategy to revamp the country’s two premier venues, Queens Sports Club and Harare Sports Club ahead of next year’s ICC Men’s Under-19 Cricket World Cup, which Zimbabwe will co-host with Namibia as well as the 2027 Men’s Cricket World Cup, which the country will co-host with South Africa and Namibia as well.
There is no confirmed timeline for when the installation process will begin or be completed.
Zimbabwe squad for test series versus south africa:
Craig Ervine (Captain), Brian Bennett, Tanaka Chivanga, Trevor Gwandu, Takudzwanashe Kaitano, Wessly Madhevere, Clive Madande, Vincent Masekesa, Wellington Masakadza, Prince Masvaure, Kundai Matigimu, Blessing Muzarabani, Newman Nyamhuri, Tafadzwa Tsiga, Nicholas Welch, Sean Williams
