Online Reporter
Tinashe Kusema-Zimpapers Sports Hub
THE Zimbabwe Chevrons’ head coach, Justin Sammons, has no qualms with Sikandar Raza choosing to skip the one-off Test cricket against Bangladesh.
While he admitted that the Chevrons talisman will be sorely missed when the Test begins this weekend at Harare Sports Club, Sammons has challenged those available to take the bull by the horns and prove their worth.
“Raza is always going to add value to any team he plays in, so whenever he’s missing it’s a big loss,” said Sammons.
“However, at the same time, Raza missing gives other guys the opportunity to put their hands up, which is really, really great.
“It is my hope now that they are able to take that opportunity and prove their worth,” he said.
The Chevrons will be without Raza when the series between Zimbabwe and Bangladesh starts on Sunday.
The 40-year-old allrounder has been granted permission to fulfil his commitment with Worcestershire County Cricket Club for the remainder of the 2026 Vitality Blast campaign in England.
Bangladesh are in the country for a month-long tour that will encompass a one-off Test, three One Day Internationals and three T20s.
The tour starts with the Test which begins on Sunday and is slated for June 28-July 3.
The hosts have a chance to make history should they win the match.
It would be the first time the Chevrons have won homes back-to-back Tests.
Their last Test outing was against Afghanistan, and Zimbabwe walked away with a convincing innings and 73 runs victory last October.
Zimbabwe Cricket have already named the 15-man squad for the one-off Test with left-arm fast bowler Richard Ngarava set to captain the national side for the first time since his appointment.
Ngarava was one of the standout performers of Afghanistan win, claiming a five-wicket haul as Zimbabwe recorded one of their most convincing Test victories in recent years.
The squad also included seven players from that match, namely Roy Kaia, Brendan Taylor, Craig Ervine, Richard Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani, Brian Bennett and Ben Curran.
They have been joined by some local players, fresh of a good 2025/2026 domestic season.
Among those are the likes of Innocent Kaia, Graeme Cremer, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Wessly Madhevere and Newman Nyamhuri.
However, missing is one of the local game’s brightest prospects Atum Naqvi, who continues to wait for his long-anticipated run in Chevrons colours.
Addressing the Naqvi question, Sammons said that the talented top-order batter is not yet eligible to play for Zimbabwe just yet.
“I think it’s important for people to understand that he is not yet eligible to play for Zimbabwe,” said Sammons
“He’s still waiting for clearance from the ICC. “His final papers and clearance have to come from the ICC, and he needs to meet a few requirements around that, so we are still waiting for that.
“Granted, he has obviously done well, domestically, but we can’t pick him just yet.
“It doesn’t matter how well he does, until he gets those final papers from the ICC, we can’t pick him in the national team,” he said.
The omission of Raza and Naqvi aside, Sammons appears rather satisfied with the charges at his disposal.
The squad has a balanced blend of experience and emerging talent as the quartet of Creamer, Taylor, Ervine and even Ngarava expected to lead the charge. “It’s always important to have players like Brendan Taylor, Creamer and Craig (Ervine) in the changing room,” he said.
“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.
All eyes are certainly set to be fixed on Innocent Kaia, has also been rewarded for his rich vein of form, both domestically and in Zimbabwe A colours.
“Innocent (Kaia) has been superb domestically,” said the Chevrons head coach
“He has obviously knocked the door down, putting on big numbers and then, obviously, went on and produced 100 in Bangladesh for the A-side, which was great to see.
“We certainly look forward to seeing how he goes through this series,” he said.
Bangladesh’s visit promises to be a thrilling affair with the Asians and Zimbabwe expected to write yet another chapter in their budding rivalry.
The two sides last met in a two-match series in Bangladesh in April and May last year, with the contest ending one-all.
Zimbabwe produced a memorable three-wicket victory in the opening Test of that series to register their first win in the format in four years before Bangladesh levelled the series in the second match.
For Sammons now, the goal is simple here.
“We want to win the series, it’s as simple as that,” said Sammons.
“From a bowling point of view, we want to be nice and aggressive, really focussing on executing our skills as much as possible.
“With the bat, the goal is to be really being smart around how we go about a business, understanding when we’re going to need to absorb through difficult periods, and obviously when we can transfer that pressure within our game plan,” he said.
Zimbabwe Test squad
Richard Ngarava (Captain), 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.
