Sikandar Raza will captain Zimbabwe across their upcoming white-ball fixtures in the UAE after regular ODI captain Richard Ngarava was ruled out with a back injury. Zimbabwe’s tour begins with an ODI tri-series against Afghanistan and Bangladesh, starting October 17, followed by three T20Is and two Tests against Afghanistan in a separate bilateral series.
Two uncapped players have been included in both white-ball squads. Wicketkeeper batter Tafadzwa Tsiga, 32, and legspinner Vincent Masekesa, 29, have been selected for the ODI and T20I squads and could make their white-ball international debuts on the tour.
Graeme Cremer has been dropped from the ODI squad. He featured in just one of Zimbabwe’s three ODIs against Australia last month, which was his first ODI appearance in eight and a half years. Innocent Kaia, who retired hurt in the final match of that Australia series with a thigh injury, is expected to be available only for the T20I series against Afghanistan, which begins October 27.
What do Tsiga and Masekesa bring to the Zimbabwe squads?
Tsiga has scored three first-class centuries in 2026 and has previously represented Zimbabwe in Test cricket, giving him experience at the highest level of the red-ball game. His inclusion in both white-ball squads signals that Zimbabwe’s selectors see him as a viable option behind the stumps in limited-overs cricket as well.
Masekesa’s case for selection rests largely on his Logan Cup performances, where he was the joint-highest wicket-taker for the Mountaineers, claiming 27 wickets at an average of 29.92. He built on that domestic form with a nine-wicket haul against a Bangladesh emerging team in Sylhet. Zimbabwe will be hoping both players can carry their red-ball performances into the white-ball arena.
How does Zimbabwe’s bowling and batting shape up for the UAE tour?
Raza, Craig Ervine and Brendan Taylor are the senior batting names in the ODI squad, providing experience across the middle and top order. Blessing Muzarabani leads the bowling attack, with Brad Evans offering support across all white-ball fixtures except the third T20I against Afghanistan, for which Kundai Matigimu replaces Evans.
Zimbabwe ODI squad:
Sikandar Raza (capt), Ben Curran, Blessing Muzarabani, Brad Evans, Brendan Taylor, Brian Bennett, Craig Ervine, Ernest Masuku, Newman Nyamhuri, Ryan Burl, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Tafadzwa Tsiga, Vincent Masekesa, Wellington Masakadza, Wessly Madhevere.
Zimbabwe T20I squad:
Sikandar Raza (capt), Ben Curran, Blessing Muzarabani, Brad Evans, Brian Bennett, Innocent Kaia, Kundai Matigimu, Newman Nyamhuri, Ryan Burl, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Tafadzwa Tsiga, Vincent Masekesa, Wellington Masakadza, Wessly Madhevere.
