Online Reporter
Tinashe Kusema
Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWE coach Justin Sammons believes that Sikandar Raza’s absence gives other players a chance to stake their claims when the Chevrons face Bangladesh in a one-off cricket Test from Sunday.
Raza, 40, was granted leave to finish the Vitality Blast with Worcestershire County Cricket Club.
The all-rounder and Zimbabwe Sportsperson of the Year will miss the Test at Harare Sports Club, which runs from June 28 to July 3.
“Raza is always going to add value to any team he plays in, so whenever he’s missing it’s a big loss,” Sammons said.”
“But at the same time it gives other guys the opportunity to put their hands up. It’s my hope they take that opportunity and prove their worth.”
Zimbabwe Cricket named a 15-man squad with Richard Ngarava set to captain the Test side for the first time.
Ngarava claimed a five-wicket haul in Zimbabwe’s innings-and-73-run win over Afghanistan in October, their last Test.
Seven players from that win return.
These are Roy Kaia, Brendan Taylor, Craig Ervine, Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani, Brian Bennett and Ben Curran.
They are joined by Graeme Cremer, Innocent Kaia, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Wessly Madhevere, and Newman Nyamhuri.
Sammons said inform domestic run-scorer Innocent Kaia had “knocked the door down” after scoring a century for Zimbabwe A in Bangladesh.
Top-order batter Atum Naqvi remains unavailable as he awaits ICC clearance to play for Zimbabwe.
“His final papers have to come from the ICC, and he needs to meet a few requirements.
“We can’t pick him until he gets those,” Sammons said.
The coach said Zimbabwe, who beat Bangladesh in the first Test of last year’s 1-1 series in Dhaka, were targeting back-to-back home Test wins for the first time.
“We want to win the series, it’s as simple as that. We want to be aggressive with the ball and smart with the bat, knowing when to absorb pressure and when to transfer it,” added Sammons.
The squad has a balanced blend of experience and emerging talent as the quartet of Creamer, Taylor, Ervine and even Ngarava are expected to lead the charge.
“It’s always important to have players like Brendan Taylor, Creamer and Craig (Ervine) in the changing room.
“They are such calm heads, possess a calm demeanour and have a lot of experience.
“These are all things that some of the younger players can lean on and feed off from in that changing room,” he said.
The hosts have a chance to make history should they win the match.
It would be the first time the Chevrons have won back-to-back home Tests.
Their last Test outing was against Afghanistan, and Zimbabwe walked away with a convincing innings and 73-run victory last October.
Zimbabwe Test squad:
Richard Ngarava (c), Brian Bennett, Tanaka Chivanga, Graeme Cremer, Ben Curran, Craig Ervine, Brad Evans, Innocent Kaia, Roy Kaia, Wessly Madhevere, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Blessing Muzarabani, Newman Nyamhuri, Brendan Taylor, Tafadzwa Tsiga
