Craig to lead Zimbabwe ODI squad against Sri Lanka

Craig Ervine, who missed the home series against Ireland last December due to injury, returns to lead the ODI side, while Sikandar Raza will captain the T20I side against Sri Lanka, commencing on January 6. Kusal Mendis will be the ODI captain, while Wanindu Hasaranga will be the new T-20 captain.

Dasun Shanaka, the previous skipper, most probably will play both ODI and T-20 games as a middle-order batsman, and he is in top form in the recent Major Club Limited Overs cricket matches. The Zimbabwe team will arrive today.

The tour will begin with three ODIs on January 6, 8 and 11, followed by as many T20Is from January 14 to 18. All games will be played at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo.

Zimbabwe has named two 15-member squads for the ODI and T20I series, while Sri Lanka already named a 20-member ODI preliminary squad and a 22-member T-20 preliminary squad. The National selection committee is expected to name 15 players for each format and get approval from the Sports Minister.

“We arranged to play a practice game between selected players last Saturday (Dec 30) at the R. Premadasa Stadium but it was interrupted by rain. The game was played yesterday to pick the final squads,” said the Chairman of the Selection Committee Upul Tharanga.

The five-member selection committee was present to see the recent Major Clubs L/O matches and also discussed with the Provincial selection committee to select the players for both National squads as well as National Super League (NSL) cricket squads.

“We have to play against Zimbabwe followed by the Afghanistan series and we can’t underestimate these two teams, especially in this white ball format. Players have to get ready to play the game,” added former Sri Lanka opener Upul Tharanga who is the youngest National Selection Committee chairman.

Zimbabwe has added uncapped off-spinner Tapiwa Mufudza to the ODI squad after a string of impressive domestic performances. In addition paceman Faraz Akram, who has already made his T20I debut, has been called up to the ODI squad. Takudzwanashe Kaitano, Tinashe Kamunhukamwe, Milton Shumba and Tony Munyonga – who were part of Zimbabwe’s squad for the Ireland series, have also got the nod to go to Sri Lanka for the ODIs.

There have been three changes to the T20I squad with Brian Bennett, Ainsley Ndlovu and Carl Mumba replacing Kaitano, Mufudza and Akram.

The only disappointing news for Zimbabwe will be the absence of veteran Sean Williams from both squads as he has failed to recover from injury.

Zimbabwe ODI squad: Craig Ervine (c), Faraz Akran, Ryan Burl, Joylord Gumbie, Luke Jongwe, Takudzwanashe Kaitano, Tinashe Kamunhukamwe, Clive Madande, Wellington Masakadza, Tapiwa Mufudza, Tony Munyonga, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava, Sikandar Raza, Milton Shumba.

Zimbabwe T-20 squad: Sikandar Raza (c), Brian Bennett, Ryan Burl, Craig Ervine, Joylord Gumbie, Luke Jongwe, Tinashe Kamunhukamwe, Clive Madande, Wellington Masakadza, Carl Mumba, Tony Munyonga, Blessing Muzarabani, Ainsley Ndlovu, Richard Ngarava, Milton Shumba.

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