Tri Series Squad

[Andy31]

Squad has been announced 8hrs ago and not post and debate.

Probably cos they continue to go with the same formula.

S.Raza
B.Bennett
R.Burl
G.Creamer
B.Evans
C.Mandande
T.Maposa
W.Masakadza
T.Marumani
T.Munyongo
T.Masekiwa
D.Myers
R.Ngarva
N.Nyamhuri
B.Taylor

[Mueddie28]

:start lineup.
Maru Wk
Bennet
BT
Raza
Burl
Musekiwa
Evans
Welky
Maposa
Cremer
Ngarava
Somehow i See Munyonga playing but for who?
D. Myers will replace Maru if he struggles the First 2 games and BT wk....

[AussieZimFan]

They say the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. Its the same squad that lost 3-0 to Afganistan minus Blessing.

Bennett
Musekiwa
Taylor
Raza
Burl
Maru
Munyonga
Evans
Masakadza
Cremer
Ngarava

[Irwin Goodman]

Since they’re going with the same squad, why can’t ZC just try changing Tony’s and Tashinga’s batting positions? Tony is clearly better at number 3 or 4. He doesn’t need to worry there, since there are more batsmen after him + Evans and Maposa. I’ve noticed he’s at his best in those positions in domestic cricket. Tony and Raza can even switch positions depending on the situation.

Musekiwa isn’t really a finisher at international level yet, but he’s been promising in the last game, so I’d keep him at 6 for a while. Maybe even at 5 depending on the situation. Raza is the only proper finisher we have in the current squad. I don’t even consider Burl a finisher by international standards, despite being a power hitter.

Marumani, on the other hand, should bat at 7. He tends to rush too much when opening, whereas Bennett has provided solid starts in the powerplays. Marumani doesn’t rotate the strike well (just like most Zimbabwean batsmen over the past decade). He can take the wicketkeeping role so BT can focus solely on batting. BT’s form hasn’t been great in white-ball cricket against full-member sides he faced. Since Dion is in the squad, he should get a couple of games. If he fails, BT is another option for opener.

Newman has been around the squad since 2024, so he might as well start playing instead of just warming the bench. Both Tino and Newman are likely to be in the Zimbabwe setup for the next ten years, as long as they stay fit. I’m actually glad not to see Blessing in the squad—at least he gets some time to rest and recover. He also has T20 franchise gig ahead, just like Richie, so he doesn’t need to play all four (or five) matches.

My starting XI for the 1st and 2nd T20Is would be:

1. Bennett
2. Myers
3. BT
4. Raza
5. Burl
6. Musekiwa
7. Marumani (WK)
8. Evans
9. Maposa
10. Nyamhuri
11. Cremer / Wellington

Part of me still isn’t convinced about Cremer, and Masakadza is just on his way. Both of them need some game time before the T20 World Cup though. They’ll probably be in the WC squad unless injuries occur. There's absolutely no point of for them to carry the drinks through out the series in the subconcintent games.

Honestly, I’m quite pessimistic about us even reaching the fifth (final) game, even with our “best” starting XI. Whether we like it or not, this is likely going to be the 15-man World Cup squad. We’re better off experimenting with the starting XI now instead of recycling the same combinations and expecting a different result. Even if the experiment should've started way before that.

[sam_ahm]

Is Blessing Muzarabani injured?

[totoro]

Is Blessing Muzarabani injured?

Yes, back injury.

[sam_ahm]

Is Blessing Muzarabani injured?

Yes, back injury.

Oh! Back injuries are never good. Hope it's not serious.

What a disastrous news.

[Flakeman]

$1.08 on Pakistan to win? I mean, bit much that!

I’d put it at, at least 1.27?

[ZIMDOGGY]

$1.08 on Pakistan to win? I mean, bit much that!

I’d put it at, at least 1.27?

That was roughly what Afghanistan were at.

Probably the logic that we have a weaker squad, against stronger opposition.
That said, our record against Pakistan is decent so load up.

[Mr Twig]

Sri Lanka are a bit rattled after a suicide bombing last week so we could be a good bet when we play them