Zimbabwe have named a 15-man group for next week’s one-off Test against Bangladesh in Harare, and the headline news is the absence of Sikandar Raza. The all-rounder remains in England, honouring a contract with Worcestershire in the Vitality Blast. Zimbabwe Cricket explained simply that Raza “has been granted permission to fulfil his commitment with Worcestershire County Cricket Club for the remainder of the 2026 Vitality Blast campaign.”
Fast bowler Richard Ngarava, installed as Test and ODI skipper back in December, will now captain the side for the first time in this format. It is a notable rise for a player who, three years ago, was struggling for a consistent place in the XI.
The selectors have also turned back the clock by recalling 39-year-old leg-spinner Graeme Cremer. He last played a Test in 2017 but has bowled tidily on the domestic circuit and, given the spin-friendly surface expected at Harare Sports Club, is viewed as a steady option.
Joining Cremer among the changes are batters Innocent Kaia and Tadiwanashe Marumani, plus all-rounder Wessly Madhevere and uncapped seamer Newman Nyamhuri. They replace Tanunurwa Makoni, Nick Welch, Antum Naqvi, Tinotenda Maposa and left-arm spinner Wellington Masakadza from the squad that beat Afghanistan by an innings last October.
Key facts first
• One Test, starting 28 June in Harare.
• Ngarava makes captaincy bow.
• Raza unavailable, playing for Worcestershire.
• Cremer recalled after nine-year Test gap.
• Four fresh faces added to squad.
Short-form success but minimal red-ball action
Zimbabwe’s last Test was that resounding win over Afghanistan eight months ago; before that, they drew 1-1 in Bangladesh. The gap in fixtures means several players have played almost exclusively white-ball cricket since, a challenge Ngarava acknowledged last week: “We’ve had to squeeze four-day training into a mainly T20 calendar,” he told a local radio station.
Analytical note
Zimbabwe’s attack shapes up with three quicks—Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani and Tanaka Chivanga—supported by Cremer’s leg-breaks and Madhevere’s off-spin. On recent Harare pitches, reverse swing has arrived late on day two, so the extra seamer feels prudent even without traditional fourth-innings wear.
Bangladesh, meanwhile, arrive with a settled top order and a pair of left-arm spinners who could make life awkward for Zimbabwe’s right-handers. Still, home advantage and the novelty of Test cricket returning to Harare should balance proceedings.
Full Zimbabwe squad
Richard Ngarava (capt), Brian Bennett, Tanaka Chivanga, Graeme Cremer, Ben Curran, Craig Ervine, Brad Evans, Innocent Kaia, Roy Kaia, Wessly Madhevere, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Blessing Muzarabani, Newman Nyamhuri, Brendan Taylor, Tafadzwa Tsiga.
The match begins Friday week; tickets are already on sale, and a modest crowd is expected. Whether the home side can cope without their talismanic Raza is the obvious question. Ngarava put it plainly after training on Monday: “We’ll miss him, but it’s a chance for someone else to step up.”
