Zimbabwe Recalls Madhevere, Mavuta for India T20I Series; Naqvi Receives Maiden Call-Up

Zimbabwe has announced its squad for the upcoming five-match T20I series against India in Harare, with batter Antum Naqvi receiving his maiden call-up. However, Naqvi's inclusion is contingent upon confirmation of his citizenship status.

The squad also sees the return of allrounders Wessly Madhevere and Brandon Mavuta, who have completed their suspensions for drug use. Experienced fast bowler Tendai Chatara, who last played in the T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier, has also been recalled.

Mainstays Craig Ervine, Sean Williams, Ryan Burl, Joylord Gumbie, and Ainsley Ndlovu have been dropped from the squad. These players were part of Zimbabwe's recent away series in Bangladesh, which they lost 4-1.

Naqvi, 25, has risen to prominence this year, becoming the first player to score a triple century for any Zimbabwe team in representative cricket. He scored an unbeaten 300 for Mid West Rhinos in the Logan Cup and captained the team in just his second year of domestic cricket in Zimbabwe.

A top-order batter, Naqvi boasts a strike rate of 146.80 in seven T20 matches. Born in Brussels, Belgium to Pakistani parents, he moved to Australia at the age of four and earned a commercial airline pilot's license. However, he put his aviation career on hold to pursue cricket.

Zimbabwe failed to qualify for the recently concluded T20 World Cup 2024 and is aiming to rebuild under new head coach Justin Sammons. The average age of the squad to face India is 27, reflecting this intention.

Captain Sikandar Raza, 38, is the most experienced player in the squad with 86 T20Is, while allrounder Luke Jongwe is second with 63 T20I appearances.

Tags: #ZimbabweCricket, #T20I, #IndiaTour, #AntumNaqvi, #WesslyMadhevere