Raza, Curran Among Four Players Rejoin Zimbabwe Squad; Bennett Recovers

Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) declared a 16-member team on Monday for the two-match Test series at home against New Zealand, which is scheduled from July 30 to August 11.

The home team has made four adjustments to their members that played in the two-match Test series versus South Africa, which ended earlier in the month.

Star all-rounder Sikandar Raza, who was absent from their most recent series, has returned to the team with Ben Curran, Roy Kaia, and Tanunurwa Makoni, taking the place of Takudzwanashe Kaitano, Prince Masvaure, Wessly Madhevere, and Kundai Matigimu.

Zimbabwe received another significant boost for the series as Brian Bennett, who is in good form and missed a portion of the South Africa series due to a concussion, has recovered and was therefore kept on the team.

Dion Myers, who had been brought in to replace him, has consequently been let go.

Bennett was instrumental in Zimbabwe’s earlier this year draw in the two-match away series against Bangladesh, where he finished as the second-highest run-scorer.

In Zimbabwe’s lone Test match against England, he then displayed his brilliance with a century in the first innings.

Craig Ervine, a middle-order batter, will remain the captain of Zimbabwe in this format, with seasoned players Sean Williams and Blessing Muzarabani leading the batting and bowling divisions, respectively.

The first Test is scheduled for July 30 through August 3 at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, which will also host the second game from August 7 to August 11.

Zimbabwe squad: Craig Ervine (c), Brian Bennett, Tanaka Chivanga, Ben Curran, Trevor Gwandu, Roy Kaia, Tanunurwa Makoni, Clive Madande, Vincent Masekesa, Wellington Masakadza, Blessing Muzarabani, Newman Nyamhuri, Sikandar Raza, Tafadzwa Tsiga, Nicholas Welch, Sean Williams