By Pride Sakupwanya
Zimbabwean born former England batsman Gary Balance is set to make his debut for the Zimbabwe national cricket team when they face Ireland for the three Twenty20 (T20) matches at Harare Sports Club later this month.
Announcing the squad, Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) said Ballance is one of four new additions to the team after his recent return to the country.
“He is one of the four changes made to the 15-man side that represented Zimbabwe at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia in September-October. Apart from Ballance, the other new faces in the squad are Tadiwanashe Marumani, Innocent Kaia and Victor Nyauchi”, Zimbabwe Cricket said.
Sikandar Raza who recently signed an Indian Premier League (IPL) contract with Punjabi Kings will miss this series and couple of players also due to injuries.
“Star all-rounder Sikandar Raza – who is in the running for the ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year, ICC Men’s ODI Cricketer of the Year and ICC Men’s T20I Cricketer of the Year awards – will not feature in the series against Ireland after Zimbabwe Cricket granted him the permission to play franchise cricket elsewhere. Pace bowler Blessing Muzarabani, who is recovering from a quadriceps injury, has also missed out on selection alongside wicketkeeper-batter Regis Chakabva and batter Milton Shumba”.
“With Captain Craig Ervine, Sean Williams, Tendai Chatara and Richard Ngarava all available, Zimbabwe will be at near-full strength when they face Ireland at Harare Sports Club,” read the statement
The 15 men squad has not changed much from the T20 World Cup that included Ervine Craig (Captain), Ballance Gary, Burl Ryan, Chatara Tendai, Evans Bradley, Jongwe Luke, Kaia Innocent, Madande Clive, Madhevere Wessly, Marumani Tadiwanashe, Masakadza Wellington, Munyonga Tony, Ngarava Richard, Nyauchi Victor, Williams Sean.
