Fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani will not travel to Pakistan for Zimbabwe’s forthcoming T20I tri-series after a flare-up of the back problem that curtailed his recent outing against Afghanistan. Zimbabwe Cricket confirmed the withdrawal late on Monday and, in the same breath, promoted left-arm seamer Newman Nyamhuri to the main squad.
Muzarabani managed figures of 2 for 41 in the opening game of the Afghan rubber but sat out the final two contests. Medical staff have since advised a cautious approach, effectively ending any prospect of a quick return.
Nyamhuri, 19, is yet to play a T20I but already owns four Test and four ODI caps since debuting last December. He was part of the squad that toured South Africa and New Zealand in July, though he never made it off the bench. The selectors have opted for continuity otherwise, retaining the rest of the group that lost 0-3 to Afghanistan at home.
Sikandar Raza’s men open their campaign against hosts Pakistan in Rawalpindi on 17 November, before facing Sri Lanka two days later at the same ground. The itinerary then shifts to Lahore: Pakistan again on 23 November, Sri Lanka on 25 November and, for the top two sides, a final on 29 November.
Zimbabwe squad: Sikandar Raza (capt), Brian Bennett, Ryan Burl, Graeme Cremer, Bradley Evans, Clive Madande, Tinotenda Maposa, Wellington Masakadza, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Tony Munyonga, Tashinga Musekiwa, Dion Myers, Richard Ngarava, Newman Nyamhuri, Brendan Taylor.
Back injury: Blessing Muzarabani (ruled out).
The selectors will hope Nyamhuri’s extra pace and left-arm angle give Zimbabwe fresh options in the powerplay and at the death, areas that looked thin in the Afghanistan series. Much, though, will still hinge on Raza’s balance between containing and striking on pitches expected to favour quicks under the lights.
