Fast bowler Tinotenda Maposa and all-rounder Tashinga Musekiwa have been named in Zimbabwe’s squad, for this month’s T20 World Cup regional qualifiers in Kenya. Trevor Gwandu, a fast bowler, was also called up by the selectors for the 15-man squad that would include 11 players from the July series against India.
With an average age of 26, Zimbabwe’s six-team T20 World Cup Africa Sub-Regional Qualifier B roster is youthful under new head coach Justin Sammons, according to a Zimbabwe Cricket announcement. The crew will be led by the seasoned Sikandar Raza. Gambia, Kenya, Mozambique, Rwanda, and the Seychelles are also participating in the qualifier. The top two teams from these will progress to the regional final to be joined by Namibia and Uganda.
Except for one first-class match and 29 one-day matches for the Mid-West Rhinos, Musekiwa’s only experience is in 21 T20 matches. His greatest stats in the T20 format are 3 for 24 out of a total of 10 wickets, and his highest score is an undefeated 38. In two one-day matches, he most recently participated for Zimbabwe’s Emerging side against South Africa’s Emerging side, scoring an undefeated 51 in the second.
Maposa is yet to participate in white-ball matches in domestic cricket, but he has played in five first-class matches for a total of 14 wickets. In the Logan Cup, his most recent series, he participated in four red-ball matches for the Matabeleland Tuskers in January and February, taking 12 wickets with one five-for.
“We have picked a young squad that is good enough to make us qualify and I am confident they will deliver in Kenya,” convener of selectors David Mutendera said in the release. “If you look at the direction we are taking, with the 2026 T20 World Cup and the future in mind, we have been blooding in youngsters who will definitely do the job like they did in winning single matches against Bangladesh and India in our last two series. “Raza is still there for now, but we had to start the process of building a younger team for the future.”
Gwandu returns to action after not playing for Zimbabwe since a home match against Ireland in December 2023. Following his participation in the Southern Rocks domestic T20 competition in March of this year, he also represented Zimbabwe Emerging in the African Games in Accra, Ghana, where Zimbabwe emerged victorious.
Zimbabwe squad: Raza Sikandar (captain), Akram Faraz, Bennett Brian, Burl Ryan, Gwandu Trevor, Madande Clive, Madhevere Wessly, Maposa Tinotenda, Marumani Tadiwanashe, Masakadza Wellington, Mavuta Brandon, Musekiwa Tashinga, Muzarabani Blessing, Myers Dion, Ngarava Richard
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