ZIM vs IRE: Zimbabwe announces 15 member Squad for home T20I Series

ZIM vs IRE: Zimbabwe cricket announces 15-member squad for their upcoming home T20I Series against Ireland. And there comes good news for former England batsman, Gary Ballance who has been included in Zimbabwe’s squad for the home T20I Series. For the unversed, Ballance recently signed a two-year deal with Zimbabwe Cricket to play for his birth country.

Another shocking aspect of the announced squad is that Zimbabwe’s star player Sikandar Raza has been excluded from the squad as he has been granted permission to feature in the UAE’s ILT20 league where he will play for the Delhi Capitals team. Key faces of Zimbabwe’s squad such as Blessing Muzarbani who is recovering from a quadriceps injury, wicket-keeper batter Regis Chakabva & batter Milton Shumba have been excluded from the squad. On the other hand, top-order batters such as Innocent Kaia, Tadiwanashe Marumani & Victor Nyauchi are the other players who have been named in the 15-member squad.

Talking about Ballance, the top-order batter who featured in 23 Test matches & 16 ODIs for England between 2014-2017 had signed a contract with Zimbabwe Cricket in December 2022 after he was released by his County Franchise, Yorkshire. The contract makes Balance eligible to feature in Zimbabwe fixtures in near future.

“I’m thrilled to be joining Zimbabwe Cricket and can’t wait to start work with some great coaches and talented players. The opportunity to represent Zimbabwe has given me a new-found passion and excitement for the game, Ballance had said at the time of signing the contract with Zimbabwe Cricket.”

The three-match T20I series will be played on January 12, 14 & 15 at Harare Sports Club followed by the three-match ODI series which is slated to be played on January 18, 21, and 23 at the same venue.

ZIM vs IRE: T20I Series schedule

Jan 12 – 1st T20I
Jan 14 – 2nd T20I
Jan 15 – 3rd T20I
Jan 18 – 1st ODI
Jan 21 – 2nd ODI
Jan 23 – 3rd ODI

ZIM vs IRE: Zimbabwe T20I squad for the series against Ireland:

Gary Ballance, Ryan Burl, Craig Ervine (capt), Tendai Chatara, Bradley Evans, Luke Jongwe, Innocent Kaia, Wessely Madhevere, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Clive Madande, Wellington Masakadza, Tony Munyonga, Richard Ngarava, Victor Nyauchi, Sean Williams.