Zimbabwe has selected two uncapped players, legspinner Vincent Masekesa and top-order batter Nicholas Welch, for the upcoming one-off Test against Ireland, set to start on February 6 in Bulawayo.
Masekesa, 27, has a solid first-class record, with 49 wickets from 15 matches, while nearly 27-year-old Welch has played 26 first-class games, scoring 1216 runs at an average of 31.
Dion Myers and Tadiwanashe Marumani were excluded from the Test squad after Zimbabwe’s 1-0 loss to Afghanistan in January. Allrounder Sikandar Raza was also not selected due to his commitment to playing for Dubai Capitals in the ILT20, which concludes on February 9. However, Raza will return to captain Zimbabwe’s T20I squad for the upcoming three-match series against Ireland.
Zimbabwe’s Sean Williams, who had been struggling with a back injury during the Afghanistan Tests, has been cleared fit for selection.
For the ODI squad, Zimbabwe made two changes, bringing in Wessly Madhevere and Nyasha Mayavo in place of Myers and Joylord Gumbie. Despite these changes, Myers retained his place in the T20I squad, while Faraz Akram and Takudzwanashe Kaitano were left out.
Irelandβs tour of Zimbabwe will begin with the one-off Test match in Bulawayo, followed by three ODIs and three T20Is in Harare.
Zimbabwe Test squad vs Ireland:
Craig Ervine (capt), Brian Bennett, Johnathan Campbell, Ben Curran, Joylord Gumbie, Trevor Gwandu, Takudzwanashe Kaitano, Vincent Masekesa, Nyasha Mayavo, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava, Newman Nyamhuri, Victor Nyauchi, Nicholas Welch, Sean Williams.
Zimbabwe ODI squad vs Ireland:
Craig Ervine (capt), Brian Bennett, Johnathan Campbell, Ben Curran, Trevor Gwandu, Wessly Madhevere, Tinotenda Maposa, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Wellington Masakadza, Nyasha Mayavo, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava, Newman Nyamhuri, Sikandar Raza, Sean Williams.
Zimbabwe T20I squad vs Ireland:
Sikandar Raza (capt), Brian Bennett, Ryan Burl, Johnathan Campbell, Trevor Gwandu, Wessly Madhevere, Tinotenda Maposa, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Wellington Masakadza, Nyasha Mayavo, Tony Munyonga, Tashinga Musekiwa, Blessing Muzarabani, Dion Myers, Richard Ngarava, Newman Nyamhuri.
