Sikandar Raza, Zimbabwe’s T20 World Cup hero, will return to international cricket for the next One Day International series against Ireland. The all-rounder was permitted to miss his team’s T20 series triumph over Ireland in order to satisfy franchise obligations, but he is back in the lineup for the ODI series.
Zimbabwe Star Sikandar Raza Returns
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Last August, he became the first Zimbabwean to win the ICC Men’s Player of the Month award, and he carried that form into the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022, where his achievements earned him a berth in the ICC Team of the Tournament.
He is also one of four candidates for the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy, the ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year award, with Babar Azam, Ben Stokes, and Tim Southee. Raza’s addition is a welcome boost after the news that all-rounder Sean Williams would miss the series due to a fractured finger.
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Former Zimbabwe captain Chamunorwa Chibhabha, leg-spinner Brandon Mavuta, and fit-again ex-England international Gary Ballance are also in the team. Ballance was capped 16 times by England in ODI cricket between 2013 and 2015, but has not played subsequently and is now eligible to represent his natal nation.
The three-match series kicks off on Wednesday at the Harare Sports Club, with the remaining games slated for Saturday and Monday. The series follows a fantastic T20I series in which Zimbabwe won a dramatic final last Sunday to win 2-1.
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Zimbabwe Squad: Craig Ervine (captain), Gary Ballance, Ryan Burl, Tendai Chatara, Chamunorwa Chibhabha, Bradley Evans, Innocent Kaia, Clive Madande, Wessly Madhevere, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Wellington Masakazda, Brandon Mavuta, Richard Ngarava, Victor Nyauchi, Sikandar Raza
Ireland tour of Zimbabwe
T20s:
- 1st T20I: 12 January
- 2nd T20I: 14 January
- 3rd T20I: 15 January
ODIs:
- 1st ODI: 18 January
- 2nd ODI: 21 January
- 3rd ODI: 23 January
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